US, China to Hold AI Talks Ahead of Xi’s September Visit

The United States and China are preparing to hold high-level artificial intelligence (AI) talks in September, marking the first official AI dialogue between the two countries under President Donald Trump’s administration. According to sources familiar with the plans, the discussions are expected to take place before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s scheduled visit to the United States on September 24, although the final dates have not yet been confirmed.

The planned meeting is one of the key outcomes of the Trump-Xi summit held in May and comes as both nations seek to address the growing risks posed by increasingly advanced AI technologies. Washington and Beijing are racing to develop powerful frontier AI models while also weighing how to regulate systems that could enhance military capabilities, enable sophisticated cyberattacks, or disrupt global labor markets.

Sources said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to lead the American delegation. The identities of other participants, the venue, and the agenda remain under discussion as preparations continue. Neither the White House nor Chinese government agencies have publicly commented on the upcoming talks.

The dialogue follows previous AI discussions held during the Biden administration, when U.S. and Chinese officials agreed that humans—not AI—should retain control over nuclear weapons decisions. However, the September meeting will be the first formal AI engagement between the two governments under Trump.

AI regulation is emerging as a key point of competition. The U.S. has already tightened export controls on advanced AI chips destined for China and is reportedly considering restrictions on the use of Chinese open-weight AI models by American companies. Meanwhile, Chinese regulators are evaluating limits on overseas access to some of the country’s most advanced AI systems due to security concerns.

Beijing is expected to focus discussions on the future release of advanced AI models, U.S. export and access restrictions, and oversight of frontier AI technologies. Analysts believe the first round of talks will primarily establish common definitions and basic rules rather than deliver major policy breakthroughs.

Experts say the meeting reflects a growing recognition by both governments that AI governance requires direct engagement, even as strategic competition between the world's two largest economies continues to intensify.