China, US agree to set up new AI safety channel, to keep talking on trade

China and the United States reached an agreement during a three-day summit in Washington to establish a new channel for addressing AI-related incidents and to enhance military crisis communications, according to statements released on Saturday. The two nations also agreed to continue working on a Bilateral Trade Board to tackle selected trade issues, with the White House confirming the board's initiation this week.

While the summit did not yield major breakthroughs, experts view the steps taken toward increased cooperation as significant, as they could prevent issues from escalating. Upon returning to Beijing on Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping received a notably warm reception from President Donald Trump, despite the trade war that had unfolded the previous year and caused global repercussions.

The two leaders subsequently agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening crisis communications and preventing military crises between the two countries, according to China's Foreign Ministry's readout.

Both China and the U.S. will set up a communication mechanism dedicated to AI-related incidents, focusing on discussing the risks and benefits associated with artificial intelligence. An AI-specific dialogue is scheduled for November. Furthermore, both sides committed to continuing their collaboration on the pledge to reduce reciprocal tariffs on approximately $30 billion worth of goods.

During the summit, Xi and Trump agreed to extend a trade truce by two months. The White House stated that China agreed to import a minimum of 10 million metric tons of coal from the U.S. in 2027 and 2028. Additionally, the two sides continued working on addressing American concerns about the supply of rare earths, with the goal of restoring shipment levels to appropriate levels.