December 25, 2024

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he prepares to leave Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport for Beijing on April 25, 2024.

Mark Schiffelbein | AFP | Getty Images

The United States and China will hold their first high-level talks on artificial intelligence “in the coming weeks,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday, but gave no update on the future of Chinese social media giant TikTok.

Blinken said during wide-ranging talks with Chinese officials in Beijing that the two sides agreed to hold the first U.S.-China intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence to discuss the risks and security issues surrounding the emerging technology.

“Earlier today, we agreed to hold the first U.S.-China talks on artificial intelligence in the coming weeks to share our respective views on the risks and security of advanced artificial intelligence and how best to manage it,” Blinken said at a press conference. they.

The United States has imposed restrictions on Beijing’s ability to acquire high-end technology and is close to banning social media app TikTok unless its Chinese parent company ByteDance sells it.

Blinken said at the press conference that TikTok “was not mentioned” in the negotiations.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms talks on artificial intelligence will take place statementwhich details the broader five-point agreement between Washington and Beijing.

According to Google Translate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the consensus also included further efforts to “stabilize and develop” U.S.-China relations, expand cultural exchanges, and continue consultations on “international and regional hotspot issues.”

China-Russia trade raises ‘serious concerns’

Blinken said China could play a constructive role in helping resolve global crises, including by preventing Iran and its proxies from further escalating conflicts in the Middle East and curbing Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.

“China has proven in the past that it can take positive action when it comes to Russia and Ukraine,” he said, referring to Xi Jinping’s message in March 2023. warn Russia opposes the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Still, Blinken added that he reiterated Washington’s “grave concerns” about China’s questionable role in sustaining Moscow’s military capabilities, particularly through products that support its defense industrial base. Beijing denies providing military aid to Russia, noting that its trade with Moscow constitutes “normal economic cooperation”.

Blinken says no further action against Beijing yet Report Washington is drafting sanctions to cut off some Chinese banks found to be supporting such trade.

“Russia will have difficulty sustaining its attack on Ukraine without China’s help,” he said. “I’m very aware of our concerns. We have to see what actions are taken next.”

“Influx” into the international market

The U.S. secretary of state’s visit comes as Washington and Beijing seek to improve strained bilateral relations despite ongoing trade tensions and national security concerns.

The United States and its Western allies accuse Chinese companies of oversupplying international markets with low-cost goods, especially green technologies such as electric vehicles, which they say jeopardizes domestic production.

Beijing has denied the claims, with Xi Jinping saying in a statement on Friday that China’s economic development must be viewed “from one perspective.”A positive light,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China’s manufacturing output was consistent with its “legitimate right to development.”

Blinken doubled down on that statement on Friday, saying the United States would take tough action to stem the flow of trade if necessary. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned earlier this month that Washington would consider imposing sanctions on Chinese companies found to be flouting fair trade practices – a stance closely echoed by Brussels.

Blinken said, “China alone meets more than 100% of global demand for green products.” “The market is flooding…President (Joe) Biden will not let that happen on his watch.”

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