Trump Hosts Xi Jinping at White House as US-China Tensions Persist

US President Donald Trump is set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday, with the high-profile visit aimed at maintaining a fragile period of reduced tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

Trump personally welcomed Xi at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, marking the first time in more than six decades that a US president has greeted a foreign political leader at the Maryland military base.

The White House has planned a formal welcome for Xi, including a ceremony on the South Lawn, a military flyover, Oval Office talks and a state banquet. The elaborate programme comes against the backdrop of unresolved disagreements over trade, artificial intelligence and China’s diplomatic and economic relationship with Iran.

Xi called for greater cooperation shortly after arriving in the United States, with Chinese state media reporting his call for China and the US to be “partners rather than rivals.” He said he looked forward to discussions with Trump on bilateral relations and major global issues.

One immediate development ahead of the meeting was the extension of a US-China trade truce. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Wednesday that the arrangement, which had been due to expire in November, would be extended by two months.

The extension is intended to prevent a return to the trade tensions triggered by Trump’s sweeping tariffs. However, the meeting is not expected to resolve all of the broader disagreements between Washington and Beijing, with both sides seeking to maintain the current detente while managing areas of competition.

Iran is also expected to feature in the discussions. Trump confirmed that his administration’s stalled conflict with Iran would be among the subjects raised, while artificial intelligence is another major issue as the US and China compete for leadership in the technology.

Taiwan is also expected to be closely watched during the summit. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory, while the island has its own elected government, making US policy towards Taiwan a sensitive issue in relations between Washington and Beijing.

Xi’s visit is scheduled to end on Friday morning, when he and his wife, Peng Liyuan, are expected to have tea with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump before visiting the National Archives in Washington.