China Confirms Initial AI Dialogues with U.S. as Trade Truce Extension Looms

China’s Ministry of Commerce officially confirmed Thursday that senior trade negotiators from Beijing and Washington have held their inaugural discussions on artificial intelligence. The announcement came just hours before President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping were scheduled to begin high-level talks in Washington, D.C.

Spokesperson He Yadong stated that during the meetings in New York, Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also explored strategies for reducing tariffs and extending trade arrangements originally agreed upon in Kuala Lumpur last October. He described the consultations as constructive and candid, noting that both sides reached multiple points of consensus.

The diplomatic engagement follows earlier remarks from Bessent, who indicated on Wednesday that the two nations had agreed to extend a trade truce until January. The original truce, established in October 2025, has served to maintain lower tariff levels and restrict China’s export controls on rare earths—critical materials for semiconductors, defense products, and various consumer goods.

Bessent had previously highlighted plans to establish a formal AI dialogue and a risk alert mechanism between the two countries. This initiative comes amid growing global concern over the rapid advancement of AI technology, particularly after recent incidents sparked fears that increasingly autonomous systems could accelerate the speed and difficulty of containing potential threats.

The confirmations mark a significant step in U.S.-China relations as the two leaders meet to address a complex agenda that includes trade stability, AI safety, semiconductor restrictions, and broader geopolitical rivalries.