Trump’s Visit to China
“China and the United States should work together to promote the development and governance of artificial intelligence so that AI can best serve the progress of human civilization and the common well-being of the international community,” said Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“During President Donald Trump’s visit to China last week, the two state leaders had constructive discussions on issues related to artificial intelligence and agreed to launch an intergovernmental dialogue on the subject,” he emphasized during a regular press briefing.
Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping share concerns about autonomous AI weapons, cyberattacks, and potential biological weapons designed by artificial intelligence, according to analysts. In 2024, Xi Jinping had agreed with Donald Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, that humans should remain masters of the decision to launch nuclear weapons. However, the two countries had not been committed to concrete cooperation until now.
AI has led to frequent disputes between the two powers. The White House recently accused Chinese entities of conducting “industrial-scale” campaigns to covertly replicate American AI models, a claim denied by Beijing.
Chinese authorities, on the other hand, have blocked the $2 billion offer from the American tech giant Meta to acquire Manus, an AI agent created by a company founded in China and now based in Singapore. “We will discuss safeguards on AI with the Chinese,” said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week.
“Improved Atmosphere”
What will the two countries discuss in the intergovernmental dialogue? They “could exchange best practices and experiences on how to address and manage” the impacts of AI on society, such as youth employment, says Sun Chenghao, a researcher at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
“Even though China and the United States are competing in the field of AI, the impact of these technologies on the world – and on all kinds of actors, whether states, societies, or businesses – is extremely important,” he emphasizes. Temporarily setting aside the most divisive issues, like exports to China of American chips capable of training and powering AI systems, “can help create an improved atmosphere” for these bilateral discussions, notes Sun Chenghao.
For researcher Mathilde Velliet from the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri), the Chinese proposal is not surprising. The developments in AI “are subjects of concern for both countries, especially the use of AI by non-state actors for attack purposes,” she explains.
