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US and China to set up AI incident channel

The United States and China will set up a communication channel for artificial intelligence incidents, the White House said Friday after talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The White House said the two countries established a “U.S.-China Super Intelligence (SI) Dialogue” to exchange views on the risks and benefits of AI. It said the leaders agreed to use the term “SI” rather than AI.

The next exchange is set to occur by November, according to a White House fact sheet.

The White House also said the two countries agreed to establish a bilateral communication channel for incidents.

Before the summit, Trump said “Super Intelligence (SI) will be a big topic of discussion” and added that he wanted “to leave it exactly where it is.” He said that was also China's position.

Xi said at the White House on Thursday that the two countries had the “capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good” and to ensure AI development remained under human control.

US and Chinese economic officials had discussed trade and artificial intelligence issues in New York before the summit, including the possible creation of a communication channel for AI concerns.

Update

The White House said the United States and China will set up a communication channel for AI incidents.

The White House said Trump and Xi established a US-China Super Intelligence Dialogue to discuss AI risks and benefits.

The next exchange is set to occur by November.

Trump and Xi agreed to use the term Super Intelligence rather than AI, according to the White House.

Source note: AFP news report published on 26 September 2026 at 04:28:08 UTC.

Update

China said it would build “strategic stability” with the United States.

Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 07:35:59 UTC.

Update

Chinese state media described the meetings as candid, in-depth and constructive.

Xinhua said the two sides discussed economic and trade issues, including implementing previous consensus and promoting bilateral trade and investment.

Xinhua said Chinese and US officials held a dialogue on AI-related issues but gave no further details.

Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 02:50:57 UTC.

Update

US officials said teams were still working through possible mutual tariff reductions on non-sensitive goods.

Jamieson Greer said possible goods could include Chinese consumer products and US energy, agricultural products and medical devices.

The talks also touched on US efforts to pressure Iran, with China described as a major economic partner and oil buyer for Iran.

Former US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell said expectations for the Trump-Xi summit were low and that a truce was one possible short-term outcome.

Campbell said Trump may announce plans to meet Xi two more times, including at APEC in Shenzhen and a G20 summit at Trump's Doral resort in Miami.

Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 01:39:24 UTC.

Update

Scott Bessent said the proposed mechanism would be called the US-China AI dialogue.

Bessent said the two sides had agreed to meet again.

The Sunday talks lasted around eight hours.

Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng also held a one-on-one discussion at JPMorgan Chase's headquarters in New York.

Chinese trade official Li Chenggang was present at the talks.

Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 00:40:02 UTC.

Update

Scott Bessent spoke after an all-day meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

Bessent said the United States proposed a notification mechanism between the two countries on artificial intelligence threats.

Bessent said Washington wants a shared view with China on common AI goals and threats.

Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 00:11:34 UTC.

Update

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the meeting with China on trade and AI as very successful.

Source note: AFP news report published on 20 September 2026 at 23:57:30 UTC.

Update

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he discussed an AI dialogue with China.

Source note: AFP news report published on 20 September 2026 at 23:59:40 UTC.

Update

A person familiar with the discussions told AFP the talks would focus on artificial intelligence, trade, rare earths and other topics.

The same person said working-level meetings could continue into Monday.

The fulfilment of earlier Chinese pledges to buy US agricultural goods could be reviewed.

Bessent said earlier that the United States was open to discussions on avoiding shared AI risks and avoiding a split between the two countries' systems.

Source note: AFP news report published on 20 September 2026 at 17:12:15 UTC.

Update

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng began the New York talks on Sunday.

Bessent said he expected focused, constructive talks to set up the leaders' meeting.

The agenda includes possible extension of a trade truce expiring in November, artificial intelligence guardrails, rare earth magnets, critical minerals and US economic pressure on Iran.

Former US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said expectations for the Trump-Xi summit were low and that a short-term truce was one possible outcome.

Source note: AFP news report published on 20 September 2026 at 15:06:17 UTC.

Update

The meeting was due to take place all day at JPMorgan Chase's headquarters in New York.

President Donald Trump's top trade official Jamieson Greer was also included in the meeting.

The officials were seeking to set the stage for possible agreements on trade, AI and other issues before a leaders' summit this week.

Source note: AFP news report published on 20 September 2026 at 14:37:22 UTC.

Update

Top US and Chinese economic officials have arrived in New York for talks.

Source note: AFP news report published on 20 September 2026 at 14:34:44 UTC.

Update

China's Vice Premier He Lifeng will lead a delegation to the United States from September 19 to 23, Xinhua reported, citing China's commerce ministry.

The consultations will cover economic and trade issues of mutual concern, according to the ministry.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he would meet He over the weekend and suggested Iran could also come up.

Source note: AFP news report published on 19 September 2026 at 02:48:49 UTC.

Uncertainty notes

The White House did not give operational details for how the incident communication channel will work.

Source

AFP news report published on .

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