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U.S. and China to hold AI talks in September

U.S. and China to hold AI talks in September

The discussions are expected before Xi Jinping's Sept. 24 U.S. visit, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent set to lead the American side in what would be the first official AI dialogue under Trump.

Fact Check
The claim is fully supported by the originating Reuters exclusive ('US, China to hold AI talks in September, sources say') and independently reported by CNBC ('U.S., China to hold AI talks in September, Reuters sources say'), both dated July 21, 2026. Both confirm the September AI talks, Xi Jinping's planned September 24 U.S. visit, and Scott Bessent leading the U.S. delegation. Supplementary searches confirm Xi's Sept 24 planned visit and that AI was on the Trump-Xi summit agenda. The main caveat is that the report is based on anonymous sources and dates/agenda are not finalized, so it reflects a plan rather than a confirmed event.
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Summary

The United States and China are preparing to hold talks in September on artificial intelligence risks and regulation, with the meeting likely to take place before Chinese President Xi Jinping's Sept. 24 visit to the United States, though the exact date has not been finalized. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to lead the American side, while the agenda, location and broader list of participants remain under discussion. The planned meeting, a significant outcome of the Trump-Xi summit in May, would mark the first official U.S.-China dialogue on AI under President Donald Trump. The talks come as Washington and Beijing weigh how to regulate increasingly powerful frontier models that could bolster military capabilities, enable cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and disrupt labor markets, even as both sides consider restrictions on advanced chips, open-weight models and overseas access to top-tier systems.

Terms & Concepts
  • frontier models: The most advanced AI systems at the leading edge of current capabilities
  • open-weight models: AI models whose trained parameters are made available for others to use, modify or build on
  • critical infrastructure: Essential systems such as power, transport or communications networks whose disruption can cause major harm