Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to make a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25. Ahead of this visit, the U.S. government has proposed establishing a direct communication channel with China to address national security issues related to artificial intelligence (AI), according to a report by Business Insider on September 21. The proposal has been referred to as a 'red phone' communication line.
According to foreign media, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Basset revealed this proposal during a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on September 20. This meeting took place in advance of the upcoming summit between President Trump and President Xi on September 24. Speaking to reporters, Basset stated, "We want a shared vision of common goals and threats," adding that the proposal would be part of U.S.-China AI discussions focused on national security incidents related to AI. He emphasized the importance of increasing transparency between the world's top two AI powers, similar to other transnational activities.
The Financial Times noted that the decision for Trump and Xi to discuss AI comes amid warnings from U.S. AI industry leaders that failure to regulate AI research could lead to a loss of human control. The report highlighted the growing calls for enhanced cooperation between the two countries on technology safety, especially as China rapidly catches up to the U.S. in AI capabilities.
Chinese state media reported on the upcoming meeting, mentioning that China has faced restrictions and pressure from the U.S. in the AI technology sector. The Global Times stated, "U.S. government agencies, including the National Security Agency (NSA), have jointly criticized Chinese AI companies for replicating advanced U.S. AI models on an 'industrial scale.'" The Chinese Ministry of Commerce responded, asserting that the U.S. accusations are baseless and reveal a double standard, aimed at pursuing hegemony in technology, monopolizing computing power, and suppressing competition in the AI field. The New York Times reported that some Chinese officials view U.S. attempts to suppress China's AI industry as a 'Cold War strategy,' while also warning that AI technology could pose a threat to the Chinese Communist Party's governance.
In a commentary for The Guardian, former Monash University President Alan Finkel stated that if AI poses even a fraction of the risks described by industry leaders, the current hands-off approach is unjustifiable. He expressed hope that Xi's state visit would provide an ideal opportunity for both leaders to demonstrate leadership that ensures AI serves humanity rather than destroys it.
Meanwhile, the state dinner hosted by President Trump for the U.S.-China summit will feature prominent figures from the American AI industry, including Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI; Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA; Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm; Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft; and Tim Cook, Chairman of Apple.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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