China and U.S. agree to establish AI safety channel and continue trade and military talks

President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing from a three-day summit in Washington, where he and U.S. President Donald Trump signed agreements to establish channels for handling AI-related incidents and military crisis communications. The two sides also committed to continuing their work on reducing tariffs on approximately $30 billion worth of goods and addressing military concerns.

During the summit, both leaders agreed to extend a trade truce for two months. The White House announced that China would import at least 10 million metric tons of coal from the U.S. in 2027 and 2028, fulfilling part of their previous commitment to reduce tariffs on non-sensitive goods such as agricultural products and holiday decorations.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry released a statement outlining the agreement to set up a communication mechanism for AI-related incidents and discuss related risks and benefits. An AI-specific dialogue was scheduled for November. The statement also mentioned that both sides would continue to work together on the pledge to reduce reciprocal tariffs on approximately $30 billion worth of goods.

Analysts noted that although the summit did not produce major breakthroughs on the fundamental differences between the two countries, the focus on working-level engagement, military-to-military dialogue, and crisis-management mechanisms aimed to create more durable and institutionalized stability.