- Yin Hejun, China's science and technology minister, called for global AI cooperation at the G20 Innovation Ministerial Meeting in the US, amid renewed trade and tech tensions ahead of the Xi-Trump summit.
- Washington is considering further restrictions on Chinese tech products, including robots and connected power inverters, while Beijing has tightened export controls on dual-use drone technology.
- Citi Research analysts led by Yu Xiangrong noted that direct US-China trade in AI is already suppressed, limiting the impact of further restrictions.
- At the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan, Xi met briefly with Iranian President Pezeshkian on the sidelines, focusing on bilateral ties, but Chinese state media gave no coverage to the meeting.
- The SCO leaders issued a joint statement backing civilian nuclear development under the NPT.
- Analysts say Xi is keeping Iran at arm's length publicly while maintaining private contact, signaling dissatisfaction with Tehran's stance on the war and the Strait of Hormuz.
- At the G20 finance ministers' meeting in Asheville, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pressed for addressing trade imbalances, without naming China directly.
- China's trade surplus with the US has swelled, drawing Western ire and becoming a central irritant in US-China relations.
- Dan Wang of Eurasia Group says the Iran war will likely dominate the Trump-Xi summit agenda, and any US secondary sanctions on Chinese banks could provoke a firmer response.
China's science and technology minister Yin Hejun has called for global cooperation on AI, emphasizing the need to manage its risks amid rising U.S.-China trade tensions.1
Yin's remarks come as the U.S. considers further restrictions on Chinese tech, while Beijing tightens its own export controls.23
China's Xi Jinping met with Iranian President Pezeshkian briefly at the SCO summit, signaling a cautious approach to Iran as he prepares for a meeting with President Trump.5
Analysts suggest Xi is maintaining contact with Tehran while managing optics to avoid appearing overly supportive.
China has been the largest buyer of Iran's sanctioned oil, but imports have sharply declined since the conflict began, indicating Beijing's dissatisfaction with Tehran's actions.
China's trade surplus has drawn criticism from Western governments, complicating U.S.-China relations as both nations seek to maximize leverage ahead of the upcoming summit.9
“The brief Xi-Pezeshkian meeting at the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan was omitted from People's Daily's front page, reinforcing Beijing's careful optics. Meanwhile, China's science minister Yin Hejun called for global AI cooperation at the G20, as Washington weighs further restrictions on Chinese tech.”
South China Morning Post
CNBC
