US President Donald Trump placed artificial intelligence and 'superintelligence' at the centre of his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, 24 September 2026, as the two leaders met at the White House for a state visit — the first such meeting between them at the White House. Xi, for his part, called for AI development to remain under human control and serve the public good, framing the technology as a shared responsibility of the world's two leading AI powers.

What the Two Leaders Said

Trump told the welcoming ceremony that discussions would span security, technology, and superintelligence, arguing that decisions taken in these areas now could 'promote peace and prosperity for decades.' He expressed confidence that both nations could achieve more by focusing on common interests.

Xi was more specific about the principles he wanted to anchor any AI collaboration. 'We have both the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good, and ensure that the development of AI is always under human control and serves the well-being of the people,' he said, according to the supplied transcript. He stopped short of specifying which rules or safeguards he wished both governments to adopt.

No Agreement Announced Yet

Neither president announced a joint AI agreement or set out a formal framework during the opening remarks. The ceremony functioned as a scene-setter: both sides identified AI as a subject for substantive discussion during Xi's Washington visit, with any concrete outcome contingent on the closed-door talks that followed. Xi also listed AI alongside trade, law enforcement, and people-to-people exchanges as potential areas of cooperation.

Broader Agenda: Trade, Military Contact, Competition

On trade, Trump said officials had been working towards a more balanced relationship since his visit to Beijing in May, pointing to efforts to expand market access for American farmers and ranchers. Xi said China welcomed American companies seeking to invest there and expressed hope that Chinese businesses would receive fair treatment in the United States.

Xi also called for the two countries' militaries to remain in regular contact and improve crisis communication — an acknowledgement that strategic rivalry persists even as both sides seek areas of cooperation. He urged that competition be kept within bounds, and called for candid dialogue across foreign affairs, economic, and financial channels.

Personal Diplomacy and Historical Context

Trump referenced the leaders' personal rapport, with a White House post quoting him as saying they had forged 'a friendship, a truly great friendship actually, built on the mutual respect and the vital interests of our people.' The two leaders previously met during Trump's first term, including at Trump's Mar-a-Lago property in Florida in 2017 and during Trump's Beijing visit later that year. Thursday's White House ceremony marked their first joint appearance at the presidential residence.

The United States and China established diplomatic relations in 1979, and their relationship today encompasses extensive trade and exchanges alongside persistent differences on economic and security policy. The AI conversation adds a fresh dimension to that long-running dynamic, as both nations accelerate investments in the technology and jockey for global leadership in its development.

Whether Thursday's talks translate into a concrete AI governance framework — or remain at the level of principle — will determine the lasting significance of Xi's Washington visit.