China confirms first AI dialogue with US: Key details to know

On Thursday, China’s Commerce Ministry confirmed that its lead trade officials had announced inaugural discussions with the US on artificial intelligence. According to spokesperson He Yadong, both sides discussed plans for reducing tariffs and renewing commercial deals in Kuala Lumpur last October.

He was primarily directing China's Vice Premier He Lifeng meeting with his counterpart Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in New York in the lead-up to this week's summit between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The two countries prolonged a tariff pause until January, and the truce reached in October 2025, capped and minimized China's export controls on rare earths which are essential semiconductor elements and used in many household goods in addition to military goods.

Bessent said the two sides further discussed establishing an AI dialogue and a collective AI framework. The Chinese confirmation of the AI talks came just hours before Xi and Trump were scheduled to commence negotiations in Washington as part of a state visit. Both sides held their first dialogue on AI under the China-US bilateral economic dialogue. China stated that it will maintain close liaison with the US side on follow-up work under the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism.