U.S., China to hold first AI talks, TikTok stalemate ongoing

The U.S. and China will hold their first high-level talks on artificial intelligence within the “coming weeks,” U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Friday, providing no update over the future of Chinese social media giant TikTok.

During wide-ranging talks with Chinese officials in Beijing, Blinken said the two sides had agreed to the first U.S.-China intergovernmental dialogue on AI to discuss the risks and safety concerns surrounding the emerging technology.

“Earlier today we agreed to hold the first US PRC talks on artificial intelligence to be held in the coming weeks, to share our respective views on risks and safety concerns around advanced AI and how best to manage them,” Blinken said during a press conference.

The U.S. imposed restrictions on Beijing’s ability to access high-end tech and is moving close to banning social media app TikTok, unless its Chinese parent ByteDance sells it.

Speaking at a press conference, Blinken said that TikTok “did not come up” in the talks.

China’s foreign ministry confirmed the AI talks will take place in a statement, which detailed a wider five-point agreement between Washington and Beijing.

Also included in the consensus were further efforts to “stabilize and develop” U.S.-China relations, expand cultural exchanges and continue consultations on “international and regional hotspot issues,” the foreign ministry said, according to a Google translation.

“China has demonstrated in the past when it comes to Russia and Ukraine that it can take positive actions,” he said, referencing a message delivered by Xi in March 2023, warning Russia against the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Blinken nevertheless added that he had reiterated Washington’s “serious concerns” over China’s suspected role in sustaining Moscow’s military capabilities, particularly via products that support its defense industrial base. Beijing has denied that it is assisting Russia militarily, noting that its trade with Moscow constitutes “normal economic cooperation.”

Blinken said that no further action had been taken against Beijing, amid reports that Washington is drafting sanctions to cut off some Chinese banks found to be enabling such trade.

“Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s help,” he said. “I was extremely clear about our concerns. We’ll have to see what actions follow from that.”

Beijing, for its part, denies the claims, with Xi saying in a statement Friday that China’s economic development must be viewed “in a “positive light” and with Foreign Minister Wang Yi describing China’s manufacturing output as consistent with its “legitimate development rights.”

Blinken doubled down on the claims on Friday, saying that the U.S. would take tough action if necessary to stem the trade flows. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned earlier this month that Washington would consider sanctions against Chinese firms that are found to be flouting fair trade practices — a stance that was closely echoed by Brussels.

“China alone is producing more than 100% of global demand” for green products, Blinken said. “It’s flooding markets … President [Joe] Biden will not let this happen on his watch.”