US proposes formal 'AI dialogue' and safety notification channel with China ahead of Trump-Xi summit

Senior US and Chinese officials concluded intensive economic and technology talks in New York on Sunday, agreeing to establish a bilateral communication channel on artificial intelligence security ahead of an upcoming White House summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

What was agreed upon regarding AI security and notification mechanisms?

Following an eight-hour meeting at JPMorgan Chase's Manhattan headquarters, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Washington proposed a formal "US-China AI dialogue" alongside an incident notification mechanism. The framework aims to provide early warning and transparency between the world's two leading AI powers if artificial intelligence developments trigger potential national security risks or cross-border safety incidents.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng led their respective delegations, which also included international trade representative Li Chenggang. Chinese state news agency Xinhua described the New York consultations as "candid, in-depth, and constructive," confirming that both sides engaged in focused discussions on implementing previous economic consensus and advancing dialogue on AI governance.

How do the New York talks set the stage for the upcoming Trump-Xi summit?

The New York negotiations serve as the primary prelude to a high-stakes bilateral meeting scheduled for Thursday at the White House between President Trump and President Xi.

Delegations from both countries are working to identify non-sensitive goods for potential tariff adjustments—such as US agricultural products, energy, and medical devices alongside Chinese consumer goods—while negotiating the continued supply of rare earth magnets and critical minerals vital to US manufacturing.

The discussions also touched upon geopolitical economic pressures, including US pressure on Iranian oil trade as Washington's conflict with Tehran enters its seventh month. According to Channel NewsAsia, analysts maintain cautious expectations for major policy breakthroughs during Thursday's summit, projecting that the primary objective for both capitals remains extending the current trade truce and maintaining open strategic lines of communication.