The United States and China will cooperate on managing risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI), including exchanging information on safety testing and establishing direct communication channels to address serious incidents, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday.
Speaking at the National Committee on US-China Relations’ 60th Anniversary Gala Dinner in New York City, Bessent said Washington and Beijing had begun a new dialogue on artificial intelligence under the direction of US President Donald Trump.
The initiative is intended to address shared technological risks, prevent misunderstandings and ensure that human judgment remains central to the development and deployment of increasingly advanced AI systems.
“We also expect to exchange best practices for evaluating and testing advanced models before their release and for keeping human judgment firmly in command of this technology,” Bessent said.
He added that the two countries were establishing a direct communication channel through which either government could promptly alert the other to serious incidents involving its artificial intelligence models.
The proposed mechanism reflects growing recognition in Washington and Beijing that the rapid development of advanced AI technologies could create risks extending beyond national borders, even as the two powers compete for technological and strategic advantages.
However, Bessent cautioned against interpreting the cooperation as a sign that the broader strategic differences between the world’s two largest economies were disappearing.
“We should harbor no illusions about the differences between the United States and China,” he said. “Our interests will not always coincide, and our approach to every challenge likewise will not always converge.”
Alongside the AI initiative, Bessent used his address to outline the Trump administration’s approach to restructuring US-China economic relations, emphasizing trade reciprocity, domestic production and reducing strategic vulnerabilities.
He said the longstanding US trade imbalance with China had remained a major source of friction between the two countries. Bessent credited Trump with taking decisive action to address what he described as unfair economic practices.
“Let me state firmly and unequivocally tonight, as we work toward a more balanced relationship, our objective is to de-risk, not to decouple,” he said.
The distinction between de-risking and decoupling is central to the administration’s stated economic approach. While Washington seeks to reduce excessive dependence on Chinese supply chains and address vulnerabilities in strategically important sectors, Bessent indicated that the United States does not intend to end economic engagement with China.
He argued that the economic relationship had developed structural imbalances, with the American economy becoming excessively dependent on foreign supplies while China’s economy had grown increasingly reliant on overseas demand.
“For decades, the American economy has grown too dependent on foreign supply, while China’s has become increasingly reliant on foreign demand. In other words, the United States must produce more of what we consume, while China must consume more of what it produces,” he said.
According to Bessent, addressing these structural differences would create opportunities for more sustainable economic relations.
“Working together, we can strengthen both of our economies without perpetuating the imbalances between them,” he added.
He also rejected suggestions that Washington’s renewed emphasis on domestic manufacturing and economic security represented hostility toward its international trading partners.
“The administration’s renewed emphasis on economic strength does not reflect hostility toward our trading partnerships,” Bessent said. “After decades of imbalance, we are restoring a spirit of reciprocity for the benefit of both our peoples.”
His remarks come amid continuing efforts by Washington and Beijing to manage trade disputes, technological competition and broader geopolitical tensions through high-level diplomatic engagement.
Bessent also confirmed that he would accompany Trump to Shenzhen next week for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit is expected to provide another opportunity for the two governments to discuss bilateral economic and strategic issues.
He said the Shenzhen meeting would precede a fourth meeting between Trump and Xi in Miami, indicating that both sides were seeking to maintain direct engagement at the highest political level.
“President Trump and President Xi agree that the United States and China should build a constructive relationship on the basis of balance and reciprocity,” Bessent said.
The proposed AI cooperation represents a potentially important area of engagement between the two countries, which are simultaneously competing to lead the development of advanced artificial intelligence.
While their approaches to technology governance, national security and economic policy remain different, the establishment of direct communication mechanisms could help reduce the possibility of misunderstandings arising from AI-related incidents.
Bessent’s remarks suggest that the Trump administration intends to pursue a dual-track approach: strengthening America’s economic and technological position while maintaining selective cooperation with Beijing on issues where both countries face common risks.
Whether the emerging dialogue can translate into sustained cooperation will depend on the ability of Washington and Beijing to manage their competing strategic interests while maintaining channels for communication and economic engagement.
