Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the United States this week for talks with President Donald Trump, with trade, artificial intelligence and geopolitical tensions expected to dominate discussions between the leaders.
China confirmed on Monday that Xi would make a state visit from Wednesday to Friday as Beijing expressed hope that the meeting would strengthen strategic stability between the world’s two largest economies.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Xi and Trump would “have an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning China-US relations and world peace and development”.
He added that Beijing would “work with the US to enrich the substance of the relationship of constructive strategic stability between China and the US... (and) properly manage differences”.
A US official said Trump would personally welcome Xi at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday before their formal meetings the following day.
“I’ll be discussing almost everything with him,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday.
Trade is expected to be one of the key issues, with the two countries maintaining a tariff truce for nearly a year but yet to reach a lasting agreement.
China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng, its top trade negotiator, is already in the US for talks with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The two officials also discussed establishing a communication channel for artificial intelligence-related concerns when they met on Sunday.
Bessent said Washington had proposed a notification mechanism for potential AI incidents that could rise to the level of a national security concern.
The conflict involving Iran is another issue likely to feature in the discussions, as China seeks to avoid US sanctions linked to its economic relations with Tehran.
China is one of Iran’s major economic partners and diplomatic backers, buys a significant share of its oil exports and has sought to mediate in the conflict, which has entered its seventh month.
Taiwan is also expected to remain a sensitive issue in the talks. China claims the self-governed island as part of its territory, while Taiwan relies heavily on US support amid growing pressure from Beijing.
China’s control of rare earth exports could also feature in the negotiations. The materials are critical to high-tech manufacturing and have previously been used by Beijing as leverage during trade tensions with Washington.
Despite the broad agenda, former US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said expectations for the summit should remain modest.
“One of the only things we can hope for in the short term is a truce, and that this will likely continue through the remainder of this year,” Campbell said.
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