China announced on Thursday that the first formal talks with the United States on artificial intelligence have taken place, and in the same statement hinted at the possibility of extending a temporary trade truce between the two countries.
The Chinese announcement gave few specifics about who took part in the AI discussions or what topics were covered. Beijing said only that the talks were the first of their kind, and it did not disclose whether the sessions were held in person or remotely.
The confirmation came just hours before President Xi Jinping was scheduled to begin talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, underscoring the diplomatic momentum between the world’s two largest economies. There was no immediate detailed response from U.S. officials when the announcement was made.
Analysts say talks on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence could form part of a broader effort to reduce friction and manage strategic competition, while the suggestion of extending a trade truce points to continued high-level engagement on economic issues. Both technology cooperation and trade negotiations remain sensitive subjects for Beijing and Washington, with wide implications for global markets and security.
It was not clear from the Chinese statement whether the AI dialogue will be ongoing or limited to a single round of exchanges. Observers will be watching the Xi-Trump meeting for further signals about the depth of cooperation on technology and whether any formal agreement on extending the trade pause is reached.