News Desk: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on the United States and China to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) remains under “human control” and is developed for the benefit of people, putting AI governance among the key issues discussed during his high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

Speaking alongside Trump during opening remarks at the White House, Xi said China and the United States are both leading countries in artificial intelligence and therefore have a shared responsibility to manage the technology responsibly.

“Both China and the United States are leading nations in artificial intelligence. 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,” Xi said, according to a translation of his remarks.

AI Emerges as a Major US-China Issue

Xi’s remarks came as Washington and Beijing seek to manage competition over advanced technologies while also addressing concerns about the security implications of increasingly capable AI systems.

Trump said before the discussions that “super intelligence” would be among the pressing technology and security issues on the agenda. He said decisions taken in these areas could influence peace and prosperity for decades.

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The emphasis on human oversight comes amid growing international debate over how governments should control increasingly autonomous AI systems, particularly where they could affect cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, military systems and other sensitive areas.

US-China AI Safety Dialogue

The AI discussion at the White House follows talks earlier this week between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

The US proposed a mechanism through which Washington and Beijing could notify each other about serious AI incidents involving potential national-security implications. Bessent said greater transparency between the world’s two leading AI powers was important for managing common risks.

The proposal is significant because Washington and Beijing remain strategic competitors in advanced technology, including AI and high-end computing. Cooperation on safety therefore has to operate alongside restrictions and disagreements over sensitive technologies.

Xi’s Position Extends Beyond the White House

Xi’s call for human control is also consistent with a broader position China has articulated on AI governance.

At the 2026 World AI Conference in Shanghai in July, Xi called for AI to be developed “for the positive and for good” and urged countries to establish laws, technological monitoring, early-warning systems and emergency-response mechanisms to prevent misuse. He specifically said AI should remain secure, controllable and under human control.

The conference’s chair’s statement also called for risk-based AI governance, safeguards for frontier AI models and clearly defined decision-making authority and behavioural boundaries for AI agents.

Cooperation Amid Wider Rivalry

The AI discussion is taking place against a much broader and complicated US-China relationship. Trump and Xi are also dealing with trade, Taiwan, critical minerals, technology restrictions and the conflict involving Iran.

Xi told Trump that the two countries should avoid conflict and confrontation and described their competition as something that should remain healthy and within limits. He also argued that cooperation between Washington and Beijing would be important for addressing major global challenges.

For AI, however, the White House meeting highlighted an unusual area of potential common ground: both countries increasingly acknowledge that the rapid development of advanced AI requires safeguards and mechanisms for managing serious risks.

Whether that shared principle can translate into concrete US-China rules remains uncertain. The proposed incident-notification mechanism and continuing bilateral dialogue could provide an initial channel for addressing AI-related emergencies, but major differences over technology, national security and strategic competition remain.

The central message from Xi’s White House remarks was clear: AI development should advance, but humans must retain ultimate control and the technology should serve human welfare.