Trump Hosts Xi in Washington as US and China Seek Progress on Trade
US President Donald Trump has welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington for a high-profile state visit, with trade, technology and other sensitive issues expected to dominate discussions between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies.
Xi arrived in Washington on Wednesday evening and was formally welcomed by Trump at Joint Base Andrews. The visit marks Xi’s first trip to Washington in more than a decade and the second meeting between the two leaders this year.
The summit combines diplomatic ceremony with negotiations aimed at keeping relations between Washington and Beijing stable despite continuing disagreements.
Trade remains a key issue
Trade is expected to be one of the most important subjects during the meetings.
The United States and China have been working to maintain a temporary pause in their trade dispute, which previously saw tariffs imposed at very high levels on goods from both countries.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said after discussions with Chinese officials that the two sides had reached an understanding to extend the current trade arrangement into January.
Further discussions could cover tariffs, agricultural purchases and other trade barriers.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has indicated that the two countries could make announcements related to agriculture and non-tariff trade measures.
China is also reportedly making progress on a potential commitment involving Boeing aircraft, although details about any additional orders remain unclear.
Wider disagreements remain
Despite the focus on trade, several major differences continue to affect US-China relations.
Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive issues between the two governments. Beijing considers Taiwan part of China, while Washington maintains close unofficial relations with the island and has continued to provide it with defensive equipment.
Chinese officials are expected to raise the issue of US arms sales to Taiwan during the visit.
The two sides also remain divided over technology restrictions, artificial intelligence and the export of advanced US technology to China.
Possible cooperation on artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence could provide an area for limited cooperation between Washington and Beijing.
Officials from both countries have discussed ways to reduce the risk of misunderstandings involving advanced technology, particularly because AI is increasingly connected to national security, economic competition and military capabilities.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also discussed the possibility of establishing a communication mechanism between the two countries to help prevent serious incidents from escalating.
However, the United States and China remain strong competitors in the development of advanced AI technology, meaning any agreement is likely to focus on specific areas rather than broader cooperation.
Iran and other international issues
The leaders are also expected to discuss the conflict involving Iran and its wider impact on energy supplies and international trade.
Washington has sought greater cooperation from Beijing on the issue, although there are differences over how the conflict should be handled.
Other possible topics include the release of Americans detained in China, military-to-military communication and efforts to prevent future disputes from escalating.
Business leaders attend state dinner
A number of major US technology and business figures are expected to attend the state dinner being held for Xi.
The guest list reportedly includes Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
Despite the presence of leading technology executives, US officials are expected to maintain restrictions on the export of some advanced technologies to China.
The Washington summit therefore comes at a time when the two countries are attempting to manage their economic relationship while continuing to compete over technology, security and geopolitical influence.
