{
  "id": 1907882,
  "title": "As Xi’s US visit approaches, basic details of planned AI talks remain uncertain",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/as-xis-us-visit-approaches-basic-details-of-planned-ai-talks-remain",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-19T10:00:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364549/xis-us-visit-approaches-basic-details-planned-ai-talks-remain-uncertain"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares for his upcoming visit to the United States, Washington and Beijing continue to grapple with the logistics and scope of a potential artificial intelligence dialogue. Key questions remain unanswered regarding the venue, participants, and depth of the discussions.\n\nThe United States has yet to designate which governmental department will spearhead the talks, while also uncertain about the inclusion of technical experts and private-sector representatives. Officials from both nations are divided on the breadth of the conversation, with Beijing pushing for a more comprehensive dialogue and Washington favoring a focus on AI safety.\n\nTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been leading discussions on the broader economic relationship between the two countries, but the AI policy encompasses various White House offices, intelligence agencies, and key departments. Expertise from AI laboratories, rather than just senior diplomats, is deemed essential for substantive dialogue, yet it remains unclear if companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and Nvidia (on the US side) or DeepSeek, Alibaba, and Baidu (on the Chinese side) will officially attend.\n\nBoth sides are divided over the dialogue's scope, with Beijing advocating for a broader conversation and the US aiming to concentrate on AI safety. Despite these differences, sources indicate that both nations are aiming to finalize the September meeting date before the end of the month. Treasury Secretary Bessent is expected to lead the US discussions, given his central role in crafting the administration's domestic AI safety framework.\n\nThe US Treasury Department expressed optimism about leveraging its position as a global AI leader to share expertise with the world's second-largest economy. Bessent noted that the Chinese interest in discussing AI suggests they recognize America's technological lead and the urgency to maintain it. In May, the US and China agreed to begin formal AI governance talks following a meeting between Trump and Xi.\n\nHowever, these talks occur amidst a growing US-China rivalry over AI development strategies. While Washington promotes its Pax Silica supply chain initiative, China pushes its World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation. On the diplomatic front, China prefers a technical focus on AI risks, testing, and governance, avoiding discussions on US chip controls and technology restrictions. Conversely, the US seeks to address AI risks without limiting its commercial dominance. The State Department highlighted the US's commitment to responsible, pro-innovation, and pro-growth AI development through bilateral and multilateral efforts. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg expressed hope for constructive engagement between the US and China, emphasizing the importance of mutual understanding despite their intensifying rivalry.",
  "summary": "With Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to the United States just weeks away, Washington and Beijing are still struggling to arrange a hoped-for dialogue on artificial intelligence, with the venue, participants and scope of the talks yet to be settled. Two sources familiar with the discussions said Washington had yet to decide which part of the US government should take the lead. The…",
  "key_points": [
    "Xi Jinping's US visit details for AI talks remain uncertain",
    "US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent leading economic discussions",
    "Both nations aim to finalize September meeting date"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "As Xi’s US visit approaches, basic details of planned AI talks remain uncertain",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/as-xis-us-visit-approaches-basic-details-of-planned-ai-talks-remain-1910877",
        "published": "2026-08-19T10:00:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}