Xi heads to US for talks with Trump
TLE Desk: Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing for Washington on Wednesday for talks with US President Donald Trump, as the world’s two largest economies seek to ease trade tensions and address growing concerns over artificial intelligence.
Xi travelled by special aircraft with his wife Peng Liyuan, senior Chinese official Cai Qi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, among others, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Trump is due to meet Xi at Joint Base Andrews before the two leaders hold formal talks at the White House on Thursday. Xi and Peng are also scheduled to attend a ceremony featuring a military flyover, followed by a state dinner hosted by Trump.
The visit will conclude on Friday, when the two presidential couples are expected to have tea at the White House before visiting the National Archives.
The White House described the visit as “a significant milestone” in US-China relations. Trump has said he plans to discuss “almost everything” with Xi.
The talks are expected to cover several contentious issues, including Trump’s war with Iran, US sanctions, trade and tariffs, and tensions over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of China.
Trade remains a major concern for both sides as Washington and Beijing seek to limit the impact of tariffs imposed during their wider trade dispute.
Artificial intelligence is another emerging area of discussion. Preliminary talks between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng included a proposal for a communication channel between the two countries on AI-related concerns.
The two sides have not disclosed detailed plans for the proposed “US-China AI dialogue”.
The case of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai could also feature in discussions. Lai’s son has appealed to Xi from Washington for his father’s release. Trump said in May that he had discussed Lai’s case with Xi but suggested his release was unlikely.
China has also used its control over rare earths and other critical materials as leverage in trade negotiations. Beijing previously tightened rare earth export controls, contributing to pressure on Washington to ease high tariffs.
Analysts have cautioned that the talks may produce few concrete agreements despite expectations surrounding the meeting.
