Xi Jinping to Visit Washington for High-Stakes Talks With Trump

Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to visit Washington next week for a state visit and talks with US President Donald Trump, with trade, artificial intelligence and access to critical minerals expected to feature prominently in discussions between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies.

Xi is scheduled to arrive at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, where Trump is expected to personally welcome him. The airport reception is an unusual protocol move for the US president, who generally receives visiting leaders at the White House.

The main programme is scheduled for Thursday, when Trump and first lady Melania Trump will welcome Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at an indoor arrival ceremony at the White House. The two presidents are also expected to review troops in the Rose Garden before holding private talks.

Trump and Xi will then attend a state dinner in the White House East Room, where both leaders are scheduled to deliver remarks. Several prominent technology and business executives are expected to attend, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser and Apple executive Tim Cook.

Xi and Peng are scheduled to return to the White House the following Friday for private tea with the Trumps. The two couples are also expected to visit the National Archives before Xi departs from Joint Base Andrews.

The diplomatic programme comes as Washington and Beijing seek to manage tensions over trade, technology and critical minerals. Trump and Xi are expected to discuss possible reductions in tariffs on selected non-strategic goods, while officials have indicated that a broader easing of US export controls on rare earth materials is unlikely at this stage.

Rare earths are essential components in products ranging from electronics and electric vehicles to advanced defence systems. China remains a dominant force in the global supply chain, making the issue a central part of negotiations between the two countries.

Artificial intelligence is also expected to feature prominently. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is due to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York ahead of the summit, with AI, trade and rare earth supplies among the issues under discussion.

The upcoming meeting will be the second encounter between Trump and Xi this year. Trump visited China in May, when the two leaders held talks in Beijing.

Xi’s last state visit to the United States took place in September 2015, during Barack Obama’s presidency. The new visit comes as Washington and Beijing attempt to maintain dialogue while negotiating a range of economic and strategic disputes.