US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington on September 23, 2026, with an unusually elaborate arrival ceremony at Joint Base Andrews. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on the tarmac as military personnel, a marching band, US and Chinese flags, and a 100-foot red carpet set the stage for the three-day visit. Two B-1 bombers also flew overhead during the ceremony.
Xi’s visit marks his first state visit to the United States in 11 years. The summit comes as Washington and Beijing seek to manage tensions over trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, rare-earth minerals, and other areas of strategic competition. Preparatory talks between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng have already focused on trade and potential AI-related agreements.
Trade is expected to remain central to the discussions. The two countries have been operating under a trade truce reached in 2025, and extending that arrangement is one of Washington and Beijing’s immediate priorities. Reuters reported that securing additional rare-earth export licences and discussing trade in areas such as agricultural products are also among the issues under consideration.
AI is another major focus, with both countries competing for technological leadership while exploring possible guardrails and mechanisms for managing risks. Leaders from major US technology companies are expected at Thursday’s state dinner, adding a business dimension to the summit.
Taiwan will also remain an important point of discussion. Washington has recently reaffirmed its security commitments to Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, while Beijing continues to regard Taiwan as part of China and opposes US arms sales to the island.
Beyond the formal negotiations, the visit includes several ceremonial and cultural events. Xi and Peng are scheduled to attend a state dinner and visit the National Archives, while Melania Trump has planned a visit to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art.
The summit reflects the complexity of the US-China relationship, with both governments pursuing economic cooperation in some areas while continuing to manage significant disagreements over technology, trade, security, and Taiwan. The three-day visit is scheduled to conclude on Friday.
