Xi calls for greater US-China cooperation on artificial intelligence

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for greater cooperation between China and the United States over artificial intelligence, saying both countries should work together to address the risks posed by the rapidly developing technology.

Speaking during his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, Xi said China and the US should make use of their respective strengths in AI rather than simply competing against each other.

The Chinese president said the two countries should continue discussions about the risks and benefits of AI and work together to prevent the technology from being misused or abused.

Xi also said that AI development should remain under human control and be focused on benefiting society.

“Both China and the United States are leading nations in artificial intelligence,” Xi said, according to a Chinese government readout of the meeting. He added that both countries have the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good.

The comments come as Washington and Beijing compete for leadership in AI, with the US maintaining restrictions on China’s access to advanced AI chips and semiconductor manufacturing technology.

Despite the wider technology rivalry, discussions have begun over establishing a formal US-China AI dialogue.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng discussed the proposal during talks in New York earlier this week. The US has proposed a notification system that could allow the two countries to share information about serious AI incidents with potential national security implications.

The proposed dialogue could provide a channel for discussions about AI safety, security and the potential misuse of increasingly capable systems.

Xi said China and the US should recognise their competition while keeping it within limits, arguing that both countries have more opportunities for cooperation than confrontation.

The two countries are among the world’s leading developers of artificial intelligence, making cooperation between Washington and Beijing potentially significant as AI systems become increasingly capable.

However, substantial differences remain between the two governments over technology controls, semiconductor access and the future development of AI.

Xi’s comments therefore come against a backdrop of both countries attempting to maintain technological competition while creating channels for communication over the risks associated with advanced AI.