Washington: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet at the White House on Thursday as the two countries seek to stabilise relations while continuing negotiations over trade, technology and major international issues.
Xi arrived in Washington on Wednesday for a three day state visit and was personally welcomed by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Joint Base Andrews. The welcome was followed by a formal programme for Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan.
The visit comes with an important economic development already in place. The United States and China have agreed to extend their existing trade truce until January 10, 2027. The arrangement had been due to expire on November 10.
The extension gives both sides more time to negotiate a broader economic agreement. It does not end the wider trade dispute between the world's two largest economies.
Trade remains at the centre of the Trump Xi meeting. The United States wants China to make progress on commitments involving purchases of American agricultural products and other issues agreed during earlier negotiations.
Progress on some of those commitments has been uneven. China has commitments involving purchases of American farm products, while expectations for a new Chinese order for Boeing aircraft have remained uncertain.
Rare earth supplies are also an important issue. China is a major supplier of rare earth materials used in industries ranging from electronics to electric vehicles and defence equipment. The United States has been seeking reliable access to these materials while continuing to restrict China's access to some advanced technologies.
Artificial intelligence is another growing area of competition between Washington and Beijing. The two countries are also discussing greater communication over artificial intelligence risks, including the possibility of mechanisms to help prevent dangerous incidents.
There is no indication that the United States and China have reached a broad agreement on artificial intelligence. The two countries continue to compete over advanced technology, semiconductors and other strategic industries.
Taiwan is expected to be one of the most sensitive political issues in the discussions. Beijing considers Taiwan a core sovereignty issue and has repeatedly called on Washington to limit its support and arms sales to the island.
Washington has maintained its policy towards Taiwan, and there is no confirmed agreement that the United States has accepted Beijing's demands on the issue.
The conflict involving Iran is also part of the wider international background to the meeting. Washington and Beijing have different positions on the conflict, and Trump is expected to discuss China's relationship with Iran. There is no confirmed new agreement under which China would take on a formal role in resolving the conflict.
Human rights and the cases of Americans detained in China are another concern for Washington.
Trump is expected to raise the cases of two US citizens, Youlin Chen and Min Zin, who are being held in China. Chen, a Chinese born American expert who has worked on detecting North Korean nuclear tests, has been detained since late 2024.
It remains unclear whether the meeting will lead to any change in their cases. It is also uncertain how extensively Trump will raise broader human rights concerns involving issues such as Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.
Xi has presented the summit as an opportunity to build a more stable relationship with Washington. After arriving in the United States, he said China and the US should be partners rather than rivals. He also called for cooperation, manageable differences and controlled competition between the two countries.
Xi has argued that the development goals of China and the United States can exist alongside each other and contribute to wider international stability.
The White House has prepared a formal state visit for Xi. Trump and Melania Trump are scheduled to host a state arrival ceremony on Thursday, followed by bilateral talks and a state dinner.
The visit is scheduled to conclude on Friday, when Trump and Melania Trump are due to meet Xi and Peng before accompanying them to the National Archives in Washington.
The extension of the trade truce gives Washington and Beijing additional time for negotiations, but major disagreements over trade, technology, Taiwan and other international issues remain unresolved.
The Trump Xi meeting is therefore taking place as both governments try to manage those differences while keeping communication open and identifying areas where cooperation remains possible.