Trump and Xi seek limited AI cooperation amid wider distrust

Xi Jinping’s state visit to Maryland is expected to produce warm optics but few concrete breakthroughs, despite Trump’s unusually friendly approach to Beijing. Analysts say Washington and Beijing remain divided over trade, export controls, Taiwan and global security, with expectations low for formal deliverables.

AI safety is the likeliest area for limited cooperation. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent has proposed an AI safety mechanism after talks with Chinese vice-premier He Lifeng, while China’s People’s Daily urged both sides to make AI a new frontier for cooperation. The White House state dinner is expected to include Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman, Tim Cook, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jensen Huang.

Deep mistrust still limits the agenda. Beijing views US safety proposals and export controls as potential efforts to suppress Chinese development, while Washington remains concerned about China’s AI progress and semiconductor access. Trade tensions also persist as a temporary truce expires in November, with China seeking tariff relief and the US reluctant to give up leverage over rare earths and magnets.

Taiwan remains a flashpoint after Trump paused a $14bn package of arms sales following the May summit, a move criticized by Democrats. Senator Tammy Duckworth warned that earlier Chinese promises to buy 200 Boeing aircraft and $17bn in agricultural products had not materialized, and expressed concern that Trump could make further concessions to Xi.