Key facts
- President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday.
- The welcome ceremony occurred on the eve of a three-day summit between Trump and Xi.
- Key agenda items for the summit include trade, artificial intelligence (AI) safety, and Taiwan's security.
- The current bilateral trade truce between the U.S. and China is set to expire in November.
- The U.S. administration has proposed a "notification mechanism" for bilateral communication on dangerous AI events with security implications.
- The summit is also expected to address North Korea-related issues, with Trump planning to resume diplomacy with Kim Jong-un later this year.
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump extended a rare welcome to Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews near Washington on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The greeting, which took place on the tarmac of the military base, underscored the importance Trump places on the visit by the leader of the Asian superpower.
Xi is in the United States for a three-day state visit that will include a high-stakes summit with Trump. The meeting is crucial for both leaders as Trump seeks stable ties ahead of the November midterm elections, and Xi aims for positive outcomes before a key Communist Party gathering next month.
The summit's agenda is expected to cover several critical issues, including the extension of the bilateral trade truce set to expire in November. The current truce, reached in Busan last year, involved Washington suspending tariff increases on Chinese goods and Beijing suspending export controls on rare earths and critical minerals.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another key topic, with both nations engaged in intense competition. Reports suggest the Trump administration has proposed a "notification mechanism" for bilateral communication regarding dangerous AI events with significant security implications.
Security concerns regarding Taiwan, which China considers its territory, are also on the agenda. Additionally, the leaders may discuss North Korea, as Trump plans to resume diplomatic efforts with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year. The leaders previously confirmed a shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea during their Beijing summit, though the reaffirmation of this goal at the current talks remains uncertain.
The state visit includes a formal arrival ceremony at the White House with 479 military personnel, a military review, and a flyover featuring a B-2 bomber and F-22 fighter jets. A state dinner is scheduled for Thursday evening, followed by a visit to the National Archives on Friday to view documents significant to U.S.-China relations.