US Treasury Chief Bessent Open to AI Risk Talks with China, Eyes Sunday Meeting in New York
SingTao · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has expressed willingness to discuss artificial intelligence risks with China, including both open-source and closed-source AI models, to prevent the two nations' AI systems from splitting entirely. Bessent is scheduled to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York on Sunday, with talks expected to cover AI, trade, rare earths and other economic issues. The meeting comes as reports emerge that China may include BYD founder Wang Chuanfu in an upcoming business delegation accompanying President Xi Jinping to a Washington summit with President Trump.
Key Points
- US Treasury Secretary Bessent stated the US remains leading in AI but is open to discussing shared risks and avoiding a complete split between the two AI ecosystems
- The planned Sunday meeting in New York between Bessent and Vice Premier He Lifeng will also address trade, rare earth supply chains and broader economic matters, with work-level talks potentially extending to Monday
- Bessent expects the AI discussions to cover both open-source weight models and closed-source systems, with Chinese open-source AI growing increasingly popular among US companies due to lower costs
- Bloomberg reports China is considering adding BYD founder Wang Chuanfu to a business delegation for Xi's Washington visit, despite the US having imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs and blacklisting BYD in June over alleged PLA ties
- Trump has suggested he might allow Chinese car companies to manufacture EVs in the US using American workers, potentially easing some trade tensions
Why It Matters
This dialogue marks a notable effort by the Trump administration to establish guardrails around AI development between the world's two largest economies, potentially setting precedents for global AI governance frameworks. For Hong Kong, which serves as a major financial hub bridging mainland China and Western markets, any US-China agreements on AI standards could reshape technology sector regulations and investment flows through the city. The outcome of these negotiations may also influence how Hong Kong-based firms navigate increasingly complex US-China technology tensions.
This dialogue marks a notable effort by the Trump administration to establish guardrails around AI development between the world's two largest economies, potentially setting precedents for global AI governance frameworks. For Hong Kong, which serves as a major financial hub bridging mainland China and Western markets, any US-China agreements on AI standards could reshape technology sector regulations and investment flows through the city. The outcome of these negotiations may also influence how Hong Kong-based firms navigate increasingly complex US-China technology tensions.