Summary
- US and Chinese officials held eight hours of discussions in New York, proposing a regular dialogue mechanism on potential AI risks and national security challenges.
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the trade and AI talks as a “very successful dialogue” and confirmed both sides agreed to continue further discussions.
- The talks also covered reducing mutual tariffs on selected goods, separating non-sensitive items from trade restrictions, and ensuring stable supply of rare earth magnets and critical minerals.
October 5, New York (RASA/AFP) – The United States and China have discussed establishing a regular dialogue mechanism to address potential risks of artificial intelligence (AI) and national security challenges. This proposal emerged during talks between US and Chinese business officials in New York, ahead of an anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and a team led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng conducted eight hours of negotiations at JPMorgan Chase’s New York headquarters. Following the meeting, Bessent described the trade and AI discussions as “very successful” and stated that both sides agreed to continue dialogue.
According to Bessent, the proposed “US-China AI Dialogue” would establish a mechanism for exchanging information on AI-related incidents or risks that might escalate into threats to national security. Both parties expressed agreement to hold further talks on this topic.
Chinese state media characterized the discussions as “clear, in-depth, and constructive.” According to Xinhua, the dialogue also touched on promoting bilateral trade and investment and executing previously agreed accords. China’s international trade representative Li Chenggang also participated in the talks.
US Trade Representative James Greer noted that the discussions included issues like mutual tariff reductions on select goods and excluding non-sensitive items from trade restrictions. Ensuring a continuous supply of rare earth magnets and critical minerals remains a key priority for the US.
China had earlier pledged to purchase US agricultural products, and implementation of this commitment, alongside US economic pressure on Iran, may also be topics for future discussion.
Former US Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell suggested tempered expectations for major breakthroughs at the Trump-Xi summit, emphasizing the potential for maintaining peace in the ongoing trade war. Trump and Xi are expected to meet at the APEC Summit in Shenzhen in November and the G20 Summit in Miami in December.
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