When Trump and Xi meet they will discuss AI. 'Track Two' talks are already buzzing

Chinese and US flags wave outside a technology company in Beijing, on April 17, 2025. (Photo by PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images) AFP hide caption

The United States and China are locked in a cycle of fierce competition and mistrust over artificial intelligence, and experts say the chances that President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping can change the dynamic when they meet in Washington next Thursday are dim.

In the past few weeks alone, the Trump administration has accused Chinese AI companies of stealing intellectual property by " distilling " leading U.S. AI models, and threatened sanctions. Beijing, for its part, has poured scorn on U.S. restrictions on chip exports, and accused Washington of running a "Cold War playbook" to hold Chinese AI down.

It would seem there is little room, or appetite, for compromise. But former officials and policy experts say there is a buzzing bilateral dialogue — and a growing sense of shared concern about the dangers of AI — at the sub-national level in what diplomacy wonks call "Track Two."

For decades, government-to-government interactions, sometimes called "Track One" diplomacy, have been underpinned by this sprawling network of informal private meetings and conferences, often run by think tanks or universities. Track Two discussions bring together experts from both sides, and cover a wide array of topics, from nuclear disarmament to climate change.

"I think there is no more important topic that the U.S. and China should be talking about than AI," said Sarah Beran, a former U.S. diplomat who worked on China and is the incoming president of the non-profit National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. The committee runs several Track Two discussions and has been involved in policy exchanges since 1972, when it sponsored a visit to China by U.S. ping pong players to help thaw relations.

AI is a tough topic, though, because there's so little trust in the relationship at the moment, says Beran. "The fear of chokepoints, being held back, and AI being used as a cudgel on both sides means that this is also one of the most difficult areas to talk about," she said.

The idea behind Track Two is to build understanding, and work toward policy recommendations that both sides can agree on. Sometimes, governments use them as back channels, or low-stakes ways to float ideas.