Top officials from the United States and China have outlined plans for a new mechanism to notify each other of artificial intelligence incidents that could threaten national security, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent following talks held on Sunday, 20 September in New York.
Bessent described the meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng as "successful" and said the two sides had agreed to establish greater transparency between the world's leading and second-leading AI powers. The discussion took place at JPMorgan Chase headquarters and precedes a scheduled summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House on 24 September.
According to reporting on the talks, the US side proposed a new bilateral AI dialogue focused specifically on national-security-level incidents and shared threats.
"We think that, just like with any cross-border activity, that moving from opaque to more transparency between the number one and the number two AI powers in the world is very important,"Bessent told reporters after the meeting.
The notification mechanism represents the first official bilateral US-China discussions devoted exclusively to artificial intelligence since Trump began his second term, according to reports. The proposal comes as frontier AI capabilities are reaching what analysts describe as a "global tipping point," with both nations racing to dominate the technology sector while managing associated risks.
What else was discussed at the New York meeting?
Beyond artificial intelligence, Bessent and He Lifeng covered multiple economic and trade matters during their Sunday session. The two officials discussed plans to operationalise a process within the Board of Trade aimed at identifying potential tariff reductions on goods. According to reports on the agenda, rare earths and broader trade issues were also on the table.
The timing of these discussions carries urgency given that a temporary truce in the tariff conflict between the world's two largest economies is scheduled to expire on 10 November. Both sides have signalled that follow-up negotiations will be time-sensitive as that deadline approaches.
Why is AI safety suddenly a priority in US-China relations?
Artificial intelligence has faced heightened scrutiny in recent weeks after technology researchers warned of potential risks the technology poses and prominent industry figures called for developers to adopt more cautious approaches to advancement. The debate over AI governance has become a central concern for policymakers on both sides of the Pacific.
Trump has largely dismissed concerns about slowing AI development, contending that existing policies provide adequate safeguards and that the United States cannot afford to lose its technological edge to China.
"Whoever wins in AI, wins,"he stated earlier this month, underscoring his administration's commitment to maintaining American leadership in the sector.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua characterised the Sunday talks as featuring
"candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges on key economic and trade issues,"and confirmed that artificial intelligence was among the topics covered.
What happens at the Trump-Xi summit?
The 24 September meeting at the White House is expected to serve as a venue for Trump and Xi to finalise the agenda for broader US-China economic talks and review the AI cooperation proposals that emerged from Bessent's discussions with He Lifeng. Bessent said in a post on social media that the New York talks
"help lay the groundwork for President Trump to advance America's economic interests and deliver results for the American people."
The summit will likely address not only artificial intelligence governance but also trade, rare earths, and other economic issues that have defined US-China relations under Trump's second administration. The outcome of these high-level discussions could shape bilateral technology policy and trade arrangements for months to come.
Key Facts
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met on 20 September at JPMorgan Chase headquarters in New York to discuss a proposed AI safety notification mechanism for national security incidents.
- The talks represent the first official bilateral US-China discussions devoted exclusively to artificial intelligence since Trump began his second term.
- A temporary tariff truce between the US and China expires on 10 November, making follow-up economic negotiations time-sensitive.
- Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet at the White House on 24 September to review AI cooperation proposals and finalise broader economic dialogue agendas.
- The US and China are engaged in a competitive race to dominate artificial intelligence and technology industries while managing associated national security risks.
