Bessent Says US, China to Launch AI Safety Talks After TrumpXi Meeting in Beijing

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrives ahead of a state banquet for President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on May 14 that Washington and Beijing would begin formal discussions on artificial intelligence (AI) safety protocols following meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Bessent’s comments come as the rival powers sought to stabilize ties strained by trade disputes, the Iran conflict, and AI competition.Speaking to CNBC from the sidelines of the Trump–Xi summit, Bessent said the United States and China—which he described as the world’s “two AI superpowers”—were preparing to establish a framework on AI best practices and safeguards aimed at preventing advanced models from falling into the wrong hands.