China and the US hold their first meeting of intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence (AI) in Geneva on May 14, 2024, local time. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

China and the US held their first meeting of intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence (AI) in Geneva on Tuesday local time. Both sides engaged in in-depth, professional, and constructive exchanges of views on AI technology risks, global governance, and other issues of mutual concern, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Chinese representatives also expressed a firm stance regarding US restrictions and suppression against China in the field of AI. Observers noted that China is maintaining a responsible attitude in its talks with the US and is open to cooperation. However, Washington's obsession with including AI as a crucial field in its competition with China is not only hindering bilateral cooperation, but also undermining global efforts to develop AI.

The meeting was co-chaired by Yang Tao, director-general of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of Chinese Foreign Ministry, Seth Center, US State Department's acting special envoy for critical and emerging technology, and Tarun Chhabra, senior director for technology and national security from the US' National Security Council (NSC).

Representatives from various Chinese ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, in addition to representatives from the US NSC, Department of State, and Department of Commerce, attended the meeting, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Both sides engaged in in-depth, professional, and constructive exchanges of views on AI technology risks, global governance, and other issues of mutual concern.

The two sides introduced their respective views on AI technology risks and governance measures, as well as the measures taken to promote the empowerment of AI in economic and social development.

China emphasized that AI technology is currently one of the most closely watched emerging technologies and reiterated its commitment to the people-centered and benevolent use of AI, ensuring that AI technology is beneficial, safe, and fair.

China supports strengthening global governance of AI and advocates for the role of the UN as the main channel. China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the international community, including the US, to form a global AI governance framework and standard norms with broad consensus.

China also expressed a firm stance regarding US restrictions and suppression against China in the field of AI.

Both sides recognized that the development of AI technology presents both opportunities and risks. They reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state in San Francisco.

Some Chinese experts considered the first intergovernmental dialogue between the two countries on AI as a positive sign for the two major powers to mitigate misunderstandings, close the gap in divergences, and seek cooperation potential in this field.

They also noted it is crucial for the US, which has long regarded AI as a core strategic area of competition against China, to abandon its constraints of technological protectionism and work toward promoting possible common solutions on topics of concern.

In the negotiation with US addressing the development of AI, China has demonstrated high level of responsibility and also offers insights on how AI can make constructive contributions to humanity and nations, rather than thwarting cooperation, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

China recognizes the importance of maintaining stable relations with the US in order to ensure that AI benefits all of mankind, therefore, Chinese representatives have pointed out the inappropriate actions taken by the US in this field, said Li, noting that compared to China, the US has a tendency to weaponize AI in order to maintain its own advantage and suppress China's development in this area.

The Biden administration is poised to open up a new front in its effort to prevent China's access to AI technology with preliminary plans to place guardrails around the most advanced AI Models, the core software of AI systems like ChatGPT, Reuters quoted sources as saying earlier this month.

Before the talks took place in Geneva, US officials told media that they did not expect any concrete agreements or offers of cooperation from the dialogue. They claimed that China "has made AI development a major national priority, and of course it's rapidly deploying capabilities across civilian as well as military/national security sectors," said a US official, and blamed China's move often taking place in a way "that we believe undermines both US and allied nations security," he said.

Currently, the US considers AI as one of the crucial areas of strategic competition with China, thus Washington remains very skeptical toward China's AI technology development and implemented strict restrictions on key AI technologies, Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

The US official's remarks and Biden administration's moves suggest the US hardliners' attitude is not going to change, said Lü. However, China, out of consideration for global interests, still hopes to cooperate with countries including the US in the field of AI, he noted.

The malicious intent of the US to incorporate AI into its strategic competition with China will not only affect cooperation on AI between the two countries, but also undermine global efforts on AI, said experts.