Xi Jinping to Hold High-Stakes Talks With Donald Trump in Washington

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to hold closely watched talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, with trade tensions, artificial intelligence and other major points of friction expected to dominate the agenda.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump personally welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday evening in a rare airport reception for a foreign leader. The White House has described Thursday’s meeting as an important milestone in U.S.-China relations.

The two leaders are expected to discuss the future of the U.S.-China trade relationship after months of tariff disputes. The 11-month trade truce between the two countries has been extended until January 10, giving negotiators additional time to work toward a broader agreement.

Trade restrictions and tariffs have previously escalated sharply, with both sides imposing measures on each other’s goods and China restricting exports of several rare-earth minerals that are important to advanced manufacturing and clean-energy industries.

Artificial intelligence is also expected to feature prominently in the talks. Although the United States and China remain major competitors in AI development, both sides have raised concerns about the risks posed by advanced AI systems.

Washington has proposed a notification mechanism under which the two countries would alert each other about serious AI-related incidents that could pose national-security risks.

Taiwan is another potentially sensitive issue. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, while the United States maintains close unofficial ties with Taipei and continues to approve arms sales to Taiwan.

The leaders are also expected to discuss the conflict involving Iran, given China’s close relationship with Tehran and Washington’s interest in Beijing using its influence in the region.

The cordial airport welcome contrasts with the sharp tensions that emerged after Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. The two countries subsequently imposed sweeping tariffs and trade restrictions on each other, while disputes also emerged over rare-earth exports and other strategic goods.

Relations began to stabilize after Trump and Xi reached a trade truce during talks in South Korea in October 2025. The two sides have since explored areas for cooperation, including trade and investment and the purchase of U.S. agricultural products and Boeing aircraft.

Thursday’s meeting will be the third direct meeting between Trump and Xi in less than a year. Beyond immediate trade issues, the talks could determine whether the two countries can prevent renewed escalation while managing competition in areas such as technology, security and Taiwan.

The discussions are also expected to explore practical cooperation on tariffs, drug trafficking, military communication and other areas of mutual interest.