US and China Agree to Establish Dialogue on AI Development

The United States and China have agreed to establish a mechanism to discuss issues related to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, stated US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Bessent made the announcement following his meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York on Sunday (20/9), ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s scheduled visit to Washington this weekend and his talks with US President Donald Trump.

“The most important thing is to start the conversation, so we have formed the AI Dialogue. We will likely meet again in two months,” Bessent said in an interview with the Financial Times published on Monday.

The US aims to manage the risks associated with AI development, particularly regarding uncontrolled AI agents and cyber threats from non-state actors, Bessent noted.

Washington is also concerned about the potential use of AI to create biological weapons, he added.

China is more focused on the regulation of the AI technology itself, an unnamed senior US official told the newspaper.

Recently, concerns have emerged in the US that AI could pose a threat to humanity. Trump has openly supported the continued development of the field, asserting that the US must not allow China to take the lead.

Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in Washington on 24 September. Trump previously visited Beijing in May, accompanied by a delegation of US business representatives.