AI Becomes New Avenue for US-China Strategic Communication

The United States and China have agreed to establish a bilateral communication channel for artificial intelligence-related incidents and set up a new dialogue on “super intelligence” following a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, according to a White House fact sheet.

The two countries agreed to use the term “super intelligence” rather than “artificial intelligence” for the emerging technologies covered by the new mechanism. They also established the US-China Super Intelligence (SI) Dialogue to exchange views on the risks and benefits associated with the technology.

The next exchange under the dialogue is expected to take place by November 2026. The two sides have also agreed to establish a bilateral communication channel specifically for SI-related incidents.

The summit covered a range of global issues, including Russia, North Korea and Iran. Trump and Xi agreed that Iran should not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon and that no country or institution should be permitted to impose tolls on international waterways.

The leaders also discussed energy security, with Trump urging China to increase production of refined petroleum products to help stabilise global supplies amid concerns over energy prices.

The White House said the two countries agreed to build a constructive relationship of strategic stability based on respect, fairness and reciprocity, with the broader objective of strengthening confidence among businesses and consumers.

On trade and investment, the two sides operationalised government-to-government mechanisms under the bilateral Board of Trade and Board of Investment, which were agreed during their earlier summit in Beijing.

Under the Board of Trade, the countries reached consensus on recommendations for more favourable tariff treatment covering $30 billion worth of non-sensitive goods in each direction. The board also launched a working group to address market-access barriers in the agricultural sector.

China is also set to import at least 10 million metric tonnes of coal from the US in both 2027 and 2028, according to the White House.

On rare earths and other critical minerals, the two countries said they would continue working on US concerns over supply-chain shortages, with the stated aim of restoring shipments to appropriate levels.

The summit marked the third in-person meeting between Trump and Xi since Trump returned to office, following their meetings in Busan in October last year and Beijing in May.

Xi concluded his three-day state visit to the US on Friday, his first trip to Washington in more than a decade. The White House described the visit as a step towards a more structured and stable framework for US-China engagement.