Donald Trump and Xi Jinping will hold high-stakes talks in Washington on trade, artificial intelligence, rare-earth supplies, Taiwan and Iran.
US President Donald Trump is hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington for a closely watched summit as the two countries attempt to manage tensions involving trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and global security.
Xi’s state visit to the United States runs from September 23 to September 25, 2026. It is his first visit to Washington in approximately 11 years and follows Trump’s trip to China earlier this year.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the leaders would hold detailed discussions on bilateral relations and major international issues. Beijing said it wanted to strengthen dialogue, manage disagreements and expand cooperation with Washington.
Trump Plans Rare Airport Welcome
Trump is expected to personally receive Xi at Joint Base Andrews—an unusual diplomatic gesture by a sitting US president.
The visit will include a formal White House arrival ceremony, bilateral meetings and a state dinner attended by prominent technology, finance and business executives.
Invitees reportedly include Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla chief Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Trade and Rare-Earth Supplies on Agenda
Trade is expected to remain one of the summit’s central subjects. Washington and Beijing have moved away from the broad tariff escalation that previously dominated their relationship, but restrictions involving strategic technologies and individual companies continue.
The leaders could discuss extending their existing trade truce, increasing Chinese purchases of American agricultural products and resolving delays affecting proposed aircraft and investment agreements.
Rare-earth elements are another major issue. The minerals are essential for electronics, electric vehicles, renewable-energy systems and defence technology. The United States has pushed China to provide more predictable access to these materials.
AI Race Adds New Tension
Competition over artificial intelligence and advanced semiconductors is expected to feature prominently in the talks.
Washington has imposed restrictions intended to limit China’s access to some advanced AI chips and manufacturing equipment. Beijing argues that such measures are designed to obstruct its technological development.
The two governments may consider establishing a dialogue or crisis-communication mechanism focused on AI risks. However, significant differences remain over technology controls and national-security concerns.
Taiwan and Iran Remain Sensitive Issues
China has again described Taiwan as a “red line” in relations with the United States and is expected to raise American arms sales and political engagement with the island.
The Trump administration could also press Xi over China’s economic relationship with Iran as Washington seeks to isolate Tehran.
Major breakthroughs are not guaranteed. Analysts expect the summit to focus on maintaining stability, preventing further deterioration in relations and achieving limited progress on selected economic issues.
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