US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington on Wednesday for a three-day visit that will test relations between the superpowers as tensions simmer over trade, technology, Taiwan and Iran.
Xi’s first trip to the US in nearly three years was not expected to deliver major breakthroughs, but Washington and Beijing could extend their 11-month trade truce.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said they had reached a deal on an extension, as Trump greeted Xi personally at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland after his arrival, underscoring the visit’s importance.
China’s embassy in Washington had no immediate comment.
At the arrival ceremony, the leaders and their wives shook hands, spoke for a few minutes and stood for pictures as a military band played, cannons blasted and a B-1 military bomber flew overhead.
The welcome marked the first time in 11 years that a US president has greeted a foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews, according to C-SPAN, which tracks presidential events. The last such reception was for Pope Francis in 2015 during Barack Obama’s presidency.
“China and the United States should be partners, not rivals,” Xi said in a written statement released by the Chinese embassy that made no reference to a trade deal.
POSITIVE SIGNALS ON TRADE
A trade deal, even a limited one, could soothe global markets shaken by a 2025 tariff war that led to triple-digit levies between the world’s two biggest economies. Bessent told Fox News’ “Special Report” that the deal would extend the truce through January 10. It had been set to expire on November 10.
Deep differences remain. The two countries are at odds on issues including export controls on rare-earth minerals and computer chips, China’s ties with Iran and US support for Taiwan.
The meeting comes at a difficult moment for Trump, who faces public discontent with his war on Iran. Xi, while also facing challenges at home, arrives in a seemingly stronger position, with his country’s trade engine roaring. Some Republicans regard Beijing as an existential threat and are wary of Trump’s friendly outreach to China’s ruling Communist Party.
People familiar with the plans said Xi was likely to raise Beijing’s claim to Taiwan, a topic Washington would prefer to avoid, while Trump was likely to maintain firm export controls over Xi’s objections. It was unclear whether Beijing would help Trump break a stalemate in the conflict with Iran.
But talks set for Thursday could nonetheless yield deals to lower tariffs in specific sectors, cooperate on drug trafficking and expand military-to-military dialogue. Trump is expected to seek the release of some Americans and others detained in China, according to the people.
The two countries could also agree to talk more on AI, where they are in fierce competition despite growing dangers.
The leaders themselves may not feel they need to compromise, analysts said.
“The president very much believes that over time the US economy is going to grow, the US will get stronger,” said Edgard Kagan, a former White House official now with Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies. “I think when Xi Jinping sits down with Donald Trump, he very much believes the US is in hurtling decline, and that time is on China’s side.”
STATE DINNER WITH AI CHIEFS
Additional fanfare during the trip is due to include a state dinner with tech luminaries, a White House military ceremony and a visit to the National Archives where the original Declaration of Independence and Constitution are housed.
The state dinner on Thursday is expected to bring together chiefs of companies important in both markets like Apple’s (AAPL.O), opens new tab Tim Cook, Nvidia’s (NVDA.O), opens new tab Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman.
Despite their deep disagreements, both countries pressed ahead with the summit, which, analysts said, seeks to project stability between the world’s biggest factory and its biggest consumer.
As in their prior two meetings since 2025, the leaders are planning a highly scripted spectacle. Instead of a joint press conference at the end, the countries are expected to issue dueling announcements highlighting what each side hopes to convey to domestic audiences.
