Trump, Xi Hold High-Stakes White House Summit
1 hour ago
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold high-stakes talks at the White House Thursday, with trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and the conflict with Iran expected to be among the major issues on the agenda.
Xi arrived in the Washington area Wednesday for a state visit, with Trump personally greeting the Chinese leader at Joint Base Andrews. The unusual planeside welcome came ahead of a full day of meetings and ceremonial events at the White House.
The summit comes as Washington and Beijing attempt to stabilize relations between the world’s two largest economies. The two governments recently agreed to extend their fragile trade truce for another two months while negotiations continue over tariffs and other economic disputes.
Trade is expected to dominate the talks. The Trump administration has pushed Beijing to address longstanding U.S. concerns involving market access, Chinese industrial policies and the supply of critical minerals and rare earths.
Artificial intelligence is also expected to play a prominent role. U.S. and Chinese officials have discussed establishing a notification system for major AI incidents that could pose national security risks, even as the two countries compete for leadership in the rapidly developing technology.
Taiwan remains another major source of tension. Beijing claims the self-governing island as its territory and has repeatedly objected to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The United States maintains unofficial relations with Taipei and provides defensive weapons under longstanding U.S. policy.
Trump and Xi are also expected to discuss the conflict with Iran and its effects on global energy markets and shipping. China has significant economic ties with Tehran and remains a major buyer of Iranian oil.
Both governments have signaled an interest in managing their differences and preventing economic and security disputes from escalating into a broader confrontation.
The summit will be followed by additional events during Xi’s state visit, including a military review and a state dinner at the White House Thursday evening.
Xi arrived in the Washington area Wednesday for a state visit, with Trump personally greeting the Chinese leader at Joint Base Andrews. The unusual planeside welcome came ahead of a full day of meetings and ceremonial events at the White House.
The summit comes as Washington and Beijing attempt to stabilize relations between the world’s two largest economies. The two governments recently agreed to extend their fragile trade truce for another two months while negotiations continue over tariffs and other economic disputes.
Trade is expected to dominate the talks. The Trump administration has pushed Beijing to address longstanding U.S. concerns involving market access, Chinese industrial policies and the supply of critical minerals and rare earths.
Artificial intelligence is also expected to play a prominent role. U.S. and Chinese officials have discussed establishing a notification system for major AI incidents that could pose national security risks, even as the two countries compete for leadership in the rapidly developing technology.
Taiwan remains another major source of tension. Beijing claims the self-governing island as its territory and has repeatedly objected to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The United States maintains unofficial relations with Taipei and provides defensive weapons under longstanding U.S. policy.
Trump and Xi are also expected to discuss the conflict with Iran and its effects on global energy markets and shipping. China has significant economic ties with Tehran and remains a major buyer of Iranian oil.
Both governments have signaled an interest in managing their differences and preventing economic and security disputes from escalating into a broader confrontation.
The summit will be followed by additional events during Xi’s state visit, including a military review and a state dinner at the White House Thursday evening.
