U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Axios that the United States is willing to discuss shared risks with China during upcoming AI-focused talks this weekend. Bessent emphasized that the United States remains the leader in artificial intelligence, but is open to talks to avoid shared risks and the bifurcation of the two countries' systems.
"The United States remains the leader in AI. And we are open to discussions on avoiding shared risks and avoiding bifurcation of our two systems. We expect our discussions to cover both open and closed weight models," Bessent said in a statement to Axios.
What to watch
- A scheduled meeting between Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng could open a channel for exploring U.S.–China cooperation on AI safety.
- Sources familiar with the matter say there will be multi-hour meetings in New York City focused on AI, trade, rare earths and other economic issues. The agenda is expected to remain flexible to allow substantive discussion across related topics.
- Possible working-level meetings may continue into Monday.
A senior administration official told Axios: "Bessent and [United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer] are the point guys on China. So it makes sense the secretary is in this position."
Bessent's role and background
Bessent has been a central figure in the Trump administration's AI agenda. He was among the few cabinet members who stood alongside President Trump at a G7 press conference in June where top AI CEOs and the administration discussed a U.S.-led effort to coordinate global AI standards.
Sources have said Bessent helped cool relations between Anthropic and the administration after a fallout with the Pentagon, and he is regarded as a reasonable actor trusted by the private sector and critical infrastructure operators.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick led high-profile AI discussions at the G20 summit in North Carolina earlier this month, while Bessent is taking the lead on talks with China.
Timing and broader context
The New York meetings come days before the summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington on Sept. 24. AI CEOs have urged U.S.–China coordination on safety standards.
This week the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, "All parties should jointly promote the open and inclusive development of AI for good and for all," while pushing back on U.S. AI companies' calls to slow down and warning against "fear-mongering."
Why it matters
A major breakthrough in U.S.–China safety cooperation remains difficult to achieve, but Bessent's involvement signals room for engagement on AI between the two competing powers. The outcome of the talks could influence the development of global AI standards and industry cooperation in the near term.
