Beijing, September 23, 2026: Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Wednesday for a state visit to the United States, where he is due to meet President Donald Trump for talks expected to cover trade, artificial intelligence, rare earths, Taiwan and other major areas of tension between the two countries.
Xi departed on a special aircraft at the invitation of Trump, accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, senior Communist Party official Cai Qi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, among others.
Trump is scheduled to personally welcome Xi at Joint Base Andrews before the Chinese president begins his official programme in Washington. The White House has described the visit as a significant milestone in US-China relations.
The two leaders are scheduled to hold talks on Thursday following a formal state arrival ceremony at the White House. The ceremony will include military demonstrations and a flyover featuring a B-2 Spirit bomber and four F-22 Raptors. Trump will also host Xi and Peng at a state dinner on Thursday evening.
The visit will conclude on Friday, when Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will meet Xi and Peng for tea at the White House before the two couples travel to the National Archives.
The summit comes as Washington and Beijing seek to manage tensions over trade and technology while addressing broader geopolitical differences.
Artificial intelligence is expected to feature prominently, with the two sides having discussed the possibility of establishing a communication channel focused on AI-related concerns during preliminary talks between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
Trade remains another major issue, with the world’s two largest economies seeking to manage the fallout from tariffs and other restrictions.
Rare earths are also likely to figure in the discussions. China dominates the supply of many rare earth elements and has previously used export controls as leverage in trade negotiations with Washington.
Taiwan is another potential flashpoint, with Beijing claiming the self-governing island as part of its territory, while Washington maintains longstanding security and political ties with Taipei.
The conflict involving Iran could also enter the discussions, particularly over China’s economic relationship with Tehran and US efforts to exert pressure on countries dealing with Iran.
Despite the high-profile nature of the summit, analysts have cautioned that the meeting may not produce a large number of concrete agreements.
The two governments have instead emphasized dialogue and managing differences. China has said the visit will provide an opportunity for the leaders to exchange views on major bilateral and international issues and to strengthen dialogue and cooperation.
Human rights issues could also arise. The son of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has appealed to Xi for his father’s release. Trump previously said he had discussed Lai’s case with Xi.
The case of underground church founder Ezra Jin has also featured in US-China discussions, with Chinese authorities releasing him after Trump raised his case with Xi, according to reports.
The visit marks Xi’s first state visit to Washington in more than a decade and comes roughly four months after Trump’s visit to China. The two leaders are expected to use the summit to address immediate disputes while seeking to maintain communication between Washington and Beijing.
