Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that the United States and China should "harbor no illusions" about their differences as they engage to contain the risks of artificial intelligence while competing for global dominance.
Speaking to the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations in New York, Bessent announced that the two governments have established a new dialogue mechanism focused on "super intelligence," or SI. This mechanism is designed to guard against shared risks and prevent misunderstandings between the two systems. Under the framework, both nations will exchange best practices for testing advanced models before release and work to keep human judgment in command of the technology. The two sides also expect to alert one another to serious incidents involving SI models.
Bessent did not commit to limiting the advancement of the technology, noting that Washington and Beijing remain locked in an intense race for AI leadership. He stated that the two nations must demonstrate how they can "reconcile the demands of competition with the responsibilities of leadership." He added that the interests and approaches of the two countries will not always coincide or converge.
China's ambassador to the U.S., Xie Feng, told the audience that cooperation between the two countries is indispensable for addressing global flashpoints and improving artificial intelligence governance. While Xie noted that cooperation may not resolve every challenge, he argued that no challenge can be resolved without it.
The remarks come as the two leaders prepare to meet for the third time next week on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting from Nov. 18 to 19, with Bessent expected to join. This follows a September agreement between Washington and Beijing to launch an AI dialogue featuring a communications channel to defuse serious incidents.
Regulatory tensions remain high as the Trump administration has largely resisted broadening restrictions on AI development to avoid ceding a competitive edge to China. President Trump recently indicated openness to regulatory safeguards in a CBS interview, though he noted he does not want regulations to place the U.S. in a "deep second position" behind China.
