Xi Jinping urges US to oppose ‘Taiwan independence’, calls for greater China-US cooperation on AI

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the United States to oppose what Beijing calls ldquoTaiwan independencerdquo and exercise caution on the Taiwan issue during talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House on ThursdayXi also called for greater cooperation between China and the US in artificial intelligence saying the two countries should manage competition while working together on the development and risks associated with the technologyAccording to Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs Xi and Trump held talks on September 24 during the Chinese Presidents threeday state visit to the US The meeting came less than six months after the two leaders previous meeting The White House confirmed Xis state visit and the September 24 programmeXi calls for stable ChinaUS tiesDuring the meeting Xi said Beijing and Washington should work towards what he described as a ldquoconstructive ChinaUS relationship of strategic stabilityrdquo building on an understanding reached by the two leaders in MayThe Chinese Foreign Ministry said Xi called for the two countries to translate that approach into practical measures with cooperation playing a greater role while competition remains within limits and differences are managed through dialogueXi also referred to the latest consultations between the economic and trade teams of the two countries saying they had produced a new joint arrangementCooperation is a twoway street To keep the economic and trade ties stable the list of cooperation needs to be lengthened and the list of issues shortened Xi said according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry statementSo long as both sides act in the spirit of equality mutual respect and mutual benefit a pathway to resolving differences can always be found he addedThe comments came as Beijing and Washington continue to negotiate over trade and other areas of economic engagementXi proposes greater cooperation on AIArtificial intelligence was another major subject discussed by the two leadersXi said both China and the US have significant capabilities in AI and argued that competition between the two countries should be accompanied by greater cooperationThe right thing to do is to draw on each otherrsquos strengths not guard against each other Xi saidHe proposed continued dialogue between China and the US on AI including discussions on its risks and benefits and joint efforts to prevent misuse and abuseAI must be kept under human control A peoplecentred approach should be upheld and AI should be developed for the positive and for good so that AI will serve the progress of humanity Xi saidTrump also said the two countries should continue discussions on AI and expand cooperation describing the technology as an issue that ldquoconcerns the future of humanityrdquo The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the two leaders agreed on the need for continued dialogue and cooperation in the fieldTaiwan remains a key point of contentionXi also raised the Taiwan issue during the talks and reiterated Beijings position on national reunification and territorial integrityPresident Xi stressed that the Chinese sidersquos position on safeguarding national reunification and territorial integrity is clearcut the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement saidIt is hoped that the US side will adhere to the correct position of opposing Taiwan independence and handle the Taiwan question with caution so as to lay a solid foundation for ChinaUS strategic cooperation and the development of bilateral relations Xi said according to the statementBeijing considers Taiwan part of China and opposes moves towards formal independence Taiwan has its own democratically elected government and maintains that its future should be decided by its people The issue remains a central point of disagreement between Beijing and WashingtonTrump calls for continued trade dialogueTrump meanwhile described Xis state visit as a ldquogreat visitrdquo and said the two countries should continue economic and trade discussionsPresident Xi and he are good friends and they maintain deep and close communication Under their leadership the USChina relationship will undoubtedly be a success the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement quoted Trump as sayingTrump also said the two sides should continue negotiations and seek an improved trade agreement The two countries economic and trade teams had held a fresh round of consultations before the leaders meetingThe White Houses public material on Xis visit also showed that trade security AI and technology were among the issues expected to feature in discussions between the two presidentsLeaders discuss global issuesXi and Trump also exchanged views on several international and regional issues including the situation in the Middle East the Ukraine crisis and developments on the Korean PeninsulaThe two leaders further agreed to support each other in hosting the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders Meeting and the G20 Summit according to Chinas Foreign MinistryWith inputs from ANI