The leaders of the United States and China are scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss various topics including trade, artificial intelligence (AI), and the situation in Iran. This will be their third in-person meeting within a year.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to engage in talks with US President Donald Trump in Washington, aiming to ease trade tensions and address advancements in AI technology. On Wednesday evening, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, marking a rare personal greeting at the base.
Xi's visit is significant as it is his first to the US in over a decade and is likely to address multiple points of contention, including the US-Israel conflict regarding Iran, the impact of Trump's tariffs, and the ongoing dispute over Taiwan, which China claims.
The White House has indicated that the upcoming discussions will be a pivotal moment in US-China relations. Following their meeting, Trump is set to host a state dinner for Xi, which will include prominent business leaders from both nations.
The visit will conclude on Friday with a tea meeting at the White House and a visit to the National Archives. Instead of a joint press conference, both countries are expected to release separate statements to communicate their perspectives.
Prior to the meeting, the two nations extended their current trade truce, which was set to expire in November, until January 10 to allow more time for negotiations. The discussions are also anticipated to cover the US-Israel conflict, with China maintaining strong ties with Iran.
Additionally, the competition in AI development is expected to be a focal point, with the US proposing a mechanism for notifying each other of significant AI incidents that could threaten national security.
China is likely to raise concerns about Taiwan, especially following a recent arms sale by the US to Taiwan. Trump has previously described arms sales as a negotiating tool. He is also expected to discuss the release of Americans detained in China.
Despite the friendly gestures, the relationship between the two leaders has been complicated by a trade war that escalated after Trump took office in January 2025, leading to significant tariffs imposed by both sides.
The upcoming meeting is seen as a test of the ability of both leaders to maintain a constructive relationship amid ongoing tensions and competing interests.