Chinese leader Xi Jinping will travel to Washington this week to meet US President Donald Trump. Xi would conduct a state visit from 23 September 2026 to 25 September 2026, with the two leaders holding a bilateral meeting on Thursday (Sep 24). The high-level meet comes just days after FBI Director Kash Patel told Congress that the US, during the past 18 months, has witnessed an unprecedented increase in spying and illegal operations by Chinese and other adversary intelligence services.<h2>China espionage threat among the greatest</h2>On Sept 15, 2026, Kash Patel told Congress that China posed the most significant foreign intelligence threat, along with Russia and Iran, posed the most significant foreign intelligence threat to the US. "All are working to erode our institutions, and each is growing bolder and more capable," warned the FBI director. He further revealed that just in last 18 month period, the FBI has a total of 130 counterintelligence arrests, of which nearly half (60) were Chinese-related spying or other illegal activity against Washington.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-communist-to-great-mayor-trump-praises-mamdani-after-new-york-meeting-discusses-immigration-and-housing-1790042778048">From ‘communist’ to ‘great mayor’: Trump praises Mamdani after New York meeting, discusses immigration and housing</a><h2>US-Chinese spy vs spy: A quick recap from the last 12 years</h2>Over the past decade, US and Chinese authorities have repeatedly accused each other of stealing sensitive information, recruiting sources and conducting cyber espionage. Let's take a quick look:<h2>Times Washington accused Beijing of espionage</h2>In 2016, the US Justice Department charged Chinese national Xu Jiaqiang with economic espionage and theft of proprietary source code, alleging that the material was intended to benefit China's National Health and Family Planning Commission. Xu later pleaded guilty to the charges.In 2017, former CIA officer Kevin Patrick Mallory was charged with passing classified information to a Chinese intelligence officer. He was later convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Separately, Chinese intelligence officer Xu Yanjun was accused of attempting to obtain aviation trade secrets from US companies. Xu was extradited to the US, convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.In 2020, US prosecutors accused four members of China's People's Liberation Army of hacking Equifax and stealing personal information belonging to about 145 million Americans. That year, the Justice Department also charged Chinese hackers allegedly working with the Ministry of State Security with a global hacking campaign targeting intellectual property, business information and COVID-19 research.In 2021, US prosecutors accused four Chinese nationals, including alleged MSS officers, of carrying out a years-long hacking campaign targeting companies, universities and government entities. The alleged theft included information considered economically valuable to Chinese companies and commercial sectors.In 2022, the Justice Department charged Chinese intelligence officers and a US citizen in separate cases involving alleged efforts to spy on dissidents and human rights activists in the United States. Another case alleged that Chinese intelligence officers used an academic institution as cover while attempting to recruit people in the US to support Chinese intelligence objectives.In 2024, US authorities accused China-linked hackers of conducting extensive cyber espionage. The Justice Department charged seven alleged members of the APT31 hacking group, saying the group had targeted political officials, candidates, campaign personnel, businesses and critics of China. Separately, the FBI and CISA said PRC-affiliated actors had compromised multiple telecommunications companies in what they described as a broad cyber espionage campaign.In 2025, US authorities continued announcing cases involving alleged Chinese intelligence activity. The Justice Department charged two people with allegedly carrying out clandestine intelligence tasks for China's MSS, including gathering information about US Navy personnel and bases and attempting to recruit potential military assets. A former US Army soldier also pleaded guilty to attempting to provide national defense information to China, while a US Navy sailor was convicted of espionage and export violations after prosecutors said he sold Navy secrets to a Chinese intelligence officer.In 2026, the Justice Department announced that an American citizen, Thomas Weir Pauken II, had pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of the PRC. Prosecutors said he worked under the direction of people he knew were connected to the Chinese government and helped identify potential intelligence assets in the US. In June, US authorities also seized 13 websites that they said were being used by suspected Chinese agents to target current and former US security clearance holders for sensitive information.The allegations have not been limited to Chinese activity. Beijing has also accused Washington of cyber espionage.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jaishankar-at-unga-india-pushes-for-reformed-multilateralism-reforms-to-global-institutions-1790046860281">India at UNGA81: Jaishankar warns global order under 'growing stress', pushes for ‘reformed multilateralism’</a><h2>Times China accused US of espionage</h2>2014: China accuses US of hacking HuaweiChina demanded an explanation from Washington after reports based on documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden alleged that the US agency had infiltrated Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. Chinese officials said they were "gravely concerned" about alleged US eavesdropping, surveillance and theft of secrets.2015: Beijing says it is also a victim of hackingAs Washington stepped up warnings about Chinese cyber activity, Beijing said the US was making "groundless accusations". Chinese officials maintained that China was itself a victim of cyberattacks and called for dialogue rather than confrontation.2018: China rejects US economic espionage allegationsAfter the US and its allies accused China of economic espionage, Beijing rejected the allegations and said Washington itself had a record of hacking and listening in on foreign governments, companies and individuals. China described the US accusations as an attempt to blame Beijing while ignoring American cyber activity.2024-25: The cyber accusations escalateThe two sides continued to trade accusations as Washington blamed Chinese-linked groups for cyber espionage campaigns, while Chinese authorities accused the US and its allies of conducting similar operations against Chinese targets.In 2025, Chinese authorities accused the US National Security Agency of carrying out cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in Harbin. China's Foreign Ministry said a government-backed report had identified cyber activity originating from the US and described China as a major victim of cyberattacks.Chinese authorities went further, alleging that three people they identified as NSA agents were involved in attacks against Chinese critical infrastructure. At the time, Reuters reported that Beijing also accused the NSA of targeting energy, transportation, communications and defence research institutions in Heilongjiang. These were Chinese government allegations, and the US did not publicly confirm them.2025: China accuses US of infiltrating its national time centreChina's Ministry of State Security also accused the US of infiltrating the National Time Service Center, saying investigators had traced stolen data and credentials to operations dating back to 2022. Beijing alleged that US intelligence had targeted staff devices and network systems and had attempted attacks against the centre's high-precision timing system in 2023 and 2024.<h2>Spy vs Spy: A long-running cycle of accusations</h2>The pattern is therefore not simply one of Washington accusing Beijing. The US has repeatedly accused Chinese intelligence services and state-linked hackers of espionage and theft of sensitive information, while Beijing has repeatedly accused US intelligence agencies of hacking Chinese government institutions, companies, telecommunications networks and critical infrastructure.<h2>'We spy like hell on them too'</h2>Trump himself acknowledged the reciprocal nature of the intelligence relationship in May 2026, saying of US spying on China: "Well, we do it too...We spy like hell on them too."When the two leaders met earlier this year, among the key topics they discussed were cyberattacks and espionage activities carried out by both nations. In what was a rare public acknowledgement of the nation's clandestine attempts to monitor Chinese officials and networks, Trump told reporters after the bilateral, "I told him, 'We do a lot of stuff to you that you don't know about and you’re doing things to us that we probably do know about'."CIA officials have also previously acknowledged that they use video campaigns to recruit Chinese officials and intelligence sources.The cloak and dagger equation between the two nations can be summed up with an interesting incident that happened earlier this year. When Trump visited China earlier this year, members of the US delegation and accompanying press were required to discard Chinese-issued items, including delegation pins, credentials and phones, before boarding Air Force One. The reported security measure reflected concerns about the potential risks posed by electronic devices and other items provided during the visit, rather than establishing that they had been used for espionage.As Xi and Trump prepare to meet in Washington, the long record of accusations from both sides provides an important backdrop to their talks.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will this week head to Washington for talks with Donald Trump. Ahead of that, let's take a look at the US-China relationship and its history of espionage accusations. From cyberattacks and intelligence recruitment to secret agents, here’s how the spy battle unfolded.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will travel to Washington this week to meet US President Donald Trump. Xi would conduct a state visit from 23 September 2026 to 25 September 2026, with the two leaders holding a bilateral meeting on Thursday (Sep 24). The high-level meet comes just days after FBI Director Kash Patel told Congress that the US, during the past 18 months, has witnessed an unprecedented increase in spying and illegal operations by Chinese and other adversary intelligence services. China espionage threat among the greatest On Sept 15, 2026, Kash Patel told Congress that China posed the most significant foreign intelligence threat, along with Russia and Iran, posed the most significant foreign intelligence threat to the US. "All are working to erode our institutions, and each is growing bolder and more capable," warned the FBI director. He further revealed that just in last 18 month period, the FBI has a total of 130 counterintelligence arrests, of which nearly half (60) were Chinese-related spying or other illegal activity against Washington. Also read | From ‘communist’ to ‘great mayor’: Trump praises Mamdani after New York meeting, discusses immigration and housing US-Chinese spy vs spy: A quick recap from the last 12 years Over the past decade, US and Chinese authorities have repeatedly accused each other of stealing sensitive information, recruiting sources and conducting cyber espionage. Let's take a quick look: Times Washington accused Beijing of espionage In 2016, the US Justice Department charged Chinese national Xu Jiaqiang with economic espionage and theft of proprietary source code, alleging that the material was intended to benefit China's National Health and Family Planning Commission. Xu later pleaded guilty to the charges. In 2017, former CIA officer Kevin Patrick Mallory was charged with passing classified information to a Chinese intelligence officer. He was later convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Separately, Chinese intelligence officer Xu Yanjun was accused of attempting to obtain aviation trade secrets from US companies. Xu was extradited to the US, convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. In 2020, US prosecutors accused four members of China's People's Liberation Army of hacking Equifax and stealing personal information belonging to about 145 million Americans. That year, the Justice Department also charged Chinese hackers allegedly working with the Ministry of State Security with a global hacking campaign targeting intellectual property, business information and COVID-19 research. In 2021, US prosecutors accused four Chinese nationals, including alleged MSS officers, of carrying out a years-long hacking campaign targeting companies, universities and government entities. The alleged theft included information considered economically valuable to Chinese companies and commercial sectors. In 2022, the Justice Department charged Chinese intelligence officers and a US citizen in separate cases involving alleged efforts to spy on dissidents and human rights activists in the United States. Another case alleged that Chinese intelligence officers used an academic institution as cover while attempting to recruit people in the US to support Chinese intelligence objectives. In 2024, US authorities accused China-linked hackers of conducting extensive cyber espionage. The Justice Department charged seven alleged members of the APT31 hacking group, saying the group had targeted political officials, candidates, campaign personnel, businesses and critics of China. Separately, the FBI and CISA said PRC-affiliated actors had compromised multiple telecommunications companies in what they described as a broad cyber espionage campaign. In 2025, US authorities continued announcing cases involving alleged Chinese intelligence activity. The Justice Department charged two people with allegedly carrying out clandestine intelligence tasks for China's MSS, including gathering information about US Navy personnel and bases and attempting to recruit potential military assets. A former US Army soldier also pleaded guilty to attempting to provide national defense information to China, while a US Navy sailor was convicted of espionage and export violations after prosecutors said he sold Navy secrets to a Chinese intelligence officer. In 2026, the Justice Department announced that an American citizen, Thomas Weir Pauken II, had pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of the PRC. Prosecutors said he worked under the direction of people he knew were connected to the Chinese government and helped identify potential intelligence assets in the US. In June, US authorities also seized 13 websites that they said were being used by suspected Chinese agents to target current and former US security clearance holders for sensitive information. The allegations have not been limited to Chinese activity. Beijing has also accused Washington of cyber espionage. Also read | India at UNGA81: Jaishankar warns global order under 'growing stress', pushes for ‘reformed multilateralism’ Times China accused US of espionage 2014: China accuses US of hacking Huawei China demanded an explanation from Washington after reports based on documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden alleged that the US agency had infiltrated Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. Chinese officials said they were "gravely concerned" about alleged US eavesdropping, surveillance and theft of secrets. 2015: Beijing says it is also a victim of hacking As Washington stepped up warnings about Chinese cyber activity, Beijing said the US was making "groundless accusations". Chinese officials maintained that China was itself a victim of cyberattacks and called for dialogue rather than confrontation. 2018: China rejects US economic espionage allegations After the US and its allies accused China of economic espionage, Beijing rejected the allegations and said Washington itself had a record of hacking and listening in on foreign governments, companies and individuals. China described the US accusations as an attempt to blame Beijing while ignoring American cyber activity. 2024-25: The cyber accusations escalate The two sides continued to trade accusations as Washington blamed Chinese-linked groups for cyber espionage campaigns, while Chinese authorities accused the US and its allies of conducting similar operations against Chinese targets. In 2025, Chinese authorities accused the US National Security Agency of carrying out cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in Harbin. China's Foreign Ministry said a government-backed report had identified cyber activity originating from the US and described China as a major victim of cyberattacks. Chinese authorities went further, alleging that three people they identified as NSA agents were involved in attacks against Chinese critical infrastructure. At the time, Reuters reported that Beijing also accused the NSA of targeting energy, transportation, communications and defence research institutions in Heilongjiang. These were Chinese government allegations, and the US did not publicly confirm them. 2025: China accuses US of infiltrating its national time centre China's Ministry of State Security also accused the US of infiltrating the National Time Service Center, saying investigators had traced stolen data and credentials to operations dating back to 2022. Beijing alleged that US intelligence had targeted staff devices and network systems and had attempted attacks against the centre's high-precision timing system in 2023 and 2024. Spy vs Spy: A long-running cycle of accusations The pattern is therefore not simply one of Washington accusing Beijing. The US has repeatedly accused Chinese intelligence services and state-linked hackers of espionage and theft of sensitive information, while Beijing has repeatedly accused US intelligence agencies of hacking Chinese government institutions, companies, telecommunications networks and critical infrastructure. 'We spy like hell on them too' Trump himself acknowledged the reciprocal nature of the intelligence relationship in May 2026, saying of US spying on China: "Well, we do it too...We spy like hell on them too." When the two leaders met earlier this year, among the key topics they discussed were cyberattacks and espionage activities carried out by both nations. In what was a rare public acknowledgement of the nation's clandestine attempts to monitor Chinese officials and networks, Trump told reporters after the bilateral, "I told him, 'We do a lot of stuff to you that you don't know about and you’re doing things to us that we probably do know about'." CIA officials have also previously acknowledged that they use video campaigns to recruit Chinese officials and intelligence sources. The cloak and dagger equation between the two nations can be summed up with an interesting incident that happened earlier this year. When Trump visited China earlier this year, members of the US delegation and accompanying press were required to discard Chinese-issued items, including delegation pins, credentials and phones, before boarding Air Force One. The reported security measure reflected concerns about the potential risks posed by electronic devices and other items provided during the visit, rather than establishing that they had been used for espionage. As Xi and Trump prepare to meet in Washington, the long record of accusations from both sides provides an important backdrop to their talks.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will this week head to Washington for talks with Donald Trump. Ahead of that, let's take a look at the US-China relationship and its history of espionage accusations. From cyberattacks and intelligence recruitment to secret agents, here’s how the spy battle unfolded.

SPY VS SPY: As Xi meets Trump, a 12-year history of US-China espionage accusations | WION Decodes

Chinese President Xi Jinping will be in the United States this week, but he will not be taking the podium at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Instead, Xi is heading to Washington for a state visit and a closely watched meeting with US President Donald Trump. The UN General Debate opens in New York on September 22, bringing together more than 130 world leaders at a moment marked by wars, economic tensions, artificial intelligence risks and questions over the future of the multilateral system. Yet Xi's three-day US visit begins on September 23, with his most important engagement taking place at the White House on September 24.&nbsp;The decision means Xi will be hundreds of kilometres away from the UN podium while Trump addresses the General Assembly in New York. But Beijing has not presented Xi's absence as a rejection of the UN. China has officially said Xi is travelling to Washington at Trump's invitation from September 23 to 25, where the two leaders will discuss China-US relations as well as international issues involving peace and development.<h2>Washington takes centre stage</h2>For Beijing, the immediate diplomatic priority appears to be direct engagement with Washington. The White House has planned a high-profile reception for Xi. Trump is scheduled to personally greet the Chinese president at Joint Base Andrews on September 23, followed by a state arrival ceremony at the White House on September 24. The visit comes more than a decade after Xi's previous White House visit.&nbsp;That symbolism matters. Rather than participating in the crowded diplomatic environment of UNGA, Xi will have direct access to Trump in a bilateral setting where trade, technology, Taiwan and wider geopolitical issues can be discussed without the constraints of a multilateral forum. The meeting also comes after years of friction between the world's two largest economies, including tariff disputes, technology restrictions and tensions over Taiwan.<h2>Trade, AI and Taiwan on the table</h2>The Trump-Xi meeting is expected to cover several of the most sensitive areas of the relationship. Trade remains a central issue, with both sides having an interest in preventing another escalation in tariffs and economic restrictions. Artificial intelligence and technology controls are also increasingly important areas of competition, particularly over advanced chips and access to critical technologies. Taiwan is another major fault line. US arms sales to Taiwan and Washington's broader security relationship with Taipei remain highly sensitive issues for Beijing.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-xi-meeting-2026-6-areas-that-will-be-closely-watched-at-the-bilateral-1790062701310">Trump Xi Meeting 2026: 6 areas that will be closely watched at the bilateral</a><h2>Not a Chinese withdrawal from the UN</h2>It would be misleading, however, to interpret Xi's absence as China walking away from the United Nations. China continues to participate in the UN system, and Chinese officials remain involved in the General Assembly and other diplomatic discussions. Xi's choice is better understood in the context of his unusually significant Washington agenda this week.<h2>Why the timing matters</h2>Xi's decision comes at a moment when Washington and Beijing are attempting to manage competition without allowing it to spiral into a broader confrontation. The two leaders have already met earlier this year, and the September visit is being presented by Beijing as another important high-level engagement. The White House, meanwhile, is giving Xi a formal state welcome, underscoring the importance Washington attaches to the meeting.&nbsp;For Xi, the Washington meetings offer an opportunity for sustained, direct discussions with the US president on issues that affect China's economic and strategic interests. For Trump, hosting Xi during UNGA week puts the US-China relationship at the centre of an already crowded diplomatic calendar.

Why is Xi Jinping skipping the UN General Assembly? China's president is heading to Washington for a key Trump summit on trade, AI, Taiwan and global issues

Chinese President Xi Jinping will be in the United States this week, but he will not be taking the podium at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Instead, Xi is heading to Washington for a state visit and a closely watched meeting with US President Donald Trump. The UN General Debate opens in New York on September 22, bringing together more than 130 world leaders at a moment marked by wars, economic tensions, artificial intelligence risks and questions over the future of the multilateral system. Yet Xi's three-day US visit begins on September 23, with his most important engagement taking place at the White House on September 24. The decision means Xi will be hundreds of kilometres away from the UN podium while Trump addresses the General Assembly in New York. But Beijing has not presented Xi's absence as a rejection of the UN. China has officially said Xi is travelling to Washington at Trump's invitation from September 23 to 25, where the two leaders will discuss China-US relations as well as international issues involving peace and development. Washington takes centre stage For Beijing, the immediate diplomatic priority appears to be direct engagement with Washington. The White House has planned a high-profile reception for Xi. Trump is scheduled to personally greet the Chinese president at Joint Base Andrews on September 23, followed by a state arrival ceremony at the White House on September 24. The visit comes more than a decade after Xi's previous White House visit. That symbolism matters. Rather than participating in the crowded diplomatic environment of UNGA, Xi will have direct access to Trump in a bilateral setting where trade, technology, Taiwan and wider geopolitical issues can be discussed without the constraints of a multilateral forum. The meeting also comes after years of friction between the world's two largest economies, including tariff disputes, technology restrictions and tensions over Taiwan. Trade, AI and Taiwan on the table The Trump-Xi meeting is expected to cover several of the most sensitive areas of the relationship. Trade remains a central issue, with both sides having an interest in preventing another escalation in tariffs and economic restrictions. Artificial intelligence and technology controls are also increasingly important areas of competition, particularly over advanced chips and access to critical technologies. Taiwan is another major fault line. US arms sales to Taiwan and Washington's broader security relationship with Taipei remain highly sensitive issues for Beijing. Also Read: Trump Xi Meeting 2026: 6 areas that will be closely watched at the bilateral Not a Chinese withdrawal from the UN It would be misleading, however, to interpret Xi's absence as China walking away from the United Nations. China continues to participate in the UN system, and Chinese officials remain involved in the General Assembly and other diplomatic discussions. Xi's choice is better understood in the context of his unusually significant Washington agenda this week. Why the timing matters Xi's decision comes at a moment when Washington and Beijing are attempting to manage competition without allowing it to spiral into a broader confrontation. The two leaders have already met earlier this year, and the September visit is being presented by Beijing as another important high-level engagement. The White House, meanwhile, is giving Xi a formal state welcome, underscoring the importance Washington attaches to the meeting. For Xi, the Washington meetings offer an opportunity for sustained, direct discussions with the US president on issues that affect China's economic and strategic interests. For Trump, hosting Xi during UNGA week puts the US-China relationship at the centre of an already crowded diplomatic calendar.

Xi Jinping is skipping the UN podium to meet Donald Trump in Washington, putting China-US ties, trade, AI and Taiwan at the centre of his US visit

Xi is going to be in America, but not at the UN: Why China’s president chose Trump over the General Assembly

US President Donald Trump will host Chinese President Xi Jinping from September 23-25 on a state visit. The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting on September 24 after Trump officially welcomes Xi on the same day. Later in the evening, Donald Trump and Melania will host Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan for a dinner.&nbsp;The bilateral meeting between Trump and Xi will be in focus as the two leaders will discuss several crucial topics, including trade and tariffs, AI, rare earth minerals, security and other geopolitical flashpoints. Here are 5 main talking points expected to be on the list when Trump and Xi sit down for their second face-to-face meeting on September 24 in Washington.<h2>Trade war</h2> Trump will officially welcome Xi on September 24 and host an elaborate dinner. However, the US and China haven't had the best relations, especially when it comes to trade and tariffs. Both superpowers hiked tariffs on each other's goods to unimaginable levels last year. US levies on Chinese imports peaked at 145 per cent, while Beijing’s retaliatory duties reached 125 per cent. Over the next few months, both sides scaled back the measures imposed in retaliation.&nbsp;They reached an agreement where China suspended export controls on rare earths and agreed to buy US agricultural products. Meanwhile, the US also suspended certain measures it took against China. However, multiple analyses show that both countries continue to impose high tariffs on each other’s goods.&nbsp;US Census data shows that trade between the two countries registered a sharp fall in 2025 and has continued to decline in 2026. US goods trade deficit with China is lower than at the same time last year, but is still high at roughly $91.2 billion. So trade and tariffs will be one of the biggest discussion points, particularly China's tariff on US liquefied natural gas.&nbsp;<h2>Rare earths and critical minerals</h2> China controls a major share of global rare-earth processing, which gives it an advantage. It also supplies minerals and magnets used in smartphones, advanced electronics, electric vehicles, aerospace and defence equipment. But as things soured between the two countries, China restricted exports of some critical minerals. Washington wants predictable, uninterrupted supplies of critical minerals and China is looking for relief from technology and export restrictions.<h2>Artificial Intelligence</h2> Talks on technology, especially AI, will also be at the centre of the bilateral talks between Xi and Trump. Amid concerns that AI could pose an existential threat to humanity, discussions on AI safety and regulations will be on the table. They will talk about establishing formal channels for handling AI-enabled cyber incidents. Nvidia's Jensen Huang, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Tesla's Elon Musk, Google's Sundar Pichai and Apple's Tim Cook will also be present at the state dinner, highlighting the importance of AI.&nbsp;Beijing is also pushing for relief from US restrictions on advanced semiconductors and technology transfers, while the US remains focused on national security safeguards.&nbsp;<h2>Iran war</h2> The US-Iran war and its impact on global oil supplies will also be one of the topics at the bilateral. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil and purchases over 80 per cent of its crude exports, while the US has been trying to pressure Iran and its partners. China's relationship with Iran is crucial to US efforts as it tries to manage the crisis.&nbsp;<h2>Taiwan</h2> China claims Taiwan as part of its own territory, but Taiwan rejects it. Even though the US does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it gives military equipment to the island nation. It could hand over an arms package worth up to $14 billion to Taiwan, which is bound to become a source of tension at the meeting.&nbsp;<h2>Fentanyl</h2> United States has pushed China to take strict action against entities involved in manufacturing and supplying chemicals used to make fentanyl. The matter has often been part of negotiations between the two countries and remains part of the broader American effort to secure Chinese cooperation on counter-narcotics.

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping's meeting in Washington will see several topics being discussed, including the trade gap, tariffs, critical minerals and artificial intelligence, as well as security issues. Here is everything that will be on the table.

US President Donald Trump will host Chinese President Xi Jinping from September 23-25 on a state visit. The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting on September 24 after Trump officially welcomes Xi on the same day. Later in the evening, Donald Trump and Melania will host Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan for a dinner. The bilateral meeting between Trump and Xi will be in focus as the two leaders will discuss several crucial topics, including trade and tariffs, AI, rare earth minerals, security and other geopolitical flashpoints. Here are 5 main talking points expected to be on the list when Trump and Xi sit down for their second face-to-face meeting on September 24 in Washington. Trade war Trump will officially welcome Xi on September 24 and host an elaborate dinner. However, the US and China haven't had the best relations, especially when it comes to trade and tariffs. Both superpowers hiked tariffs on each other's goods to unimaginable levels last year. US levies on Chinese imports peaked at 145 per cent, while Beijing’s retaliatory duties reached 125 per cent. Over the next few months, both sides scaled back the measures imposed in retaliation. They reached an agreement where China suspended export controls on rare earths and agreed to buy US agricultural products. Meanwhile, the US also suspended certain measures it took against China. However, multiple analyses show that both countries continue to impose high tariffs on each other’s goods. US Census data shows that trade between the two countries registered a sharp fall in 2025 and has continued to decline in 2026. US goods trade deficit with China is lower than at the same time last year, but is still high at roughly $91.2 billion. So trade and tariffs will be one of the biggest discussion points, particularly China's tariff on US liquefied natural gas. Rare earths and critical minerals China controls a major share of global rare-earth processing, which gives it an advantage. It also supplies minerals and magnets used in smartphones, advanced electronics, electric vehicles, aerospace and defence equipment. But as things soured between the two countries, China restricted exports of some critical minerals. Washington wants predictable, uninterrupted supplies of critical minerals and China is looking for relief from technology and export restrictions. Artificial Intelligence Talks on technology, especially AI, will also be at the centre of the bilateral talks between Xi and Trump. Amid concerns that AI could pose an existential threat to humanity, discussions on AI safety and regulations will be on the table. They will talk about establishing formal channels for handling AI-enabled cyber incidents. Nvidia's Jensen Huang, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Tesla's Elon Musk, Google's Sundar Pichai and Apple's Tim Cook will also be present at the state dinner, highlighting the importance of AI. Beijing is also pushing for relief from US restrictions on advanced semiconductors and technology transfers, while the US remains focused on national security safeguards. Iran war The US-Iran war and its impact on global oil supplies will also be one of the topics at the bilateral. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil and purchases over 80 per cent of its crude exports, while the US has been trying to pressure Iran and its partners. China's relationship with Iran is crucial to US efforts as it tries to manage the crisis. Taiwan China claims Taiwan as part of its own territory, but Taiwan rejects it. Even though the US does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it gives military equipment to the island nation. It could hand over an arms package worth up to $14 billion to Taiwan, which is bound to become a source of tension at the meeting. Fentanyl United States has pushed China to take strict action against entities involved in manufacturing and supplying chemicals used to make fentanyl. The matter has often been part of negotiations between the two countries and remains part of the broader American effort to secure Chinese cooperation on counter-narcotics.

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping's meeting in Washington will see several topics being discussed, including the trade gap, tariffs, critical minerals and artificial intelligence, as well as security issues. Here is everything that will be on the table.

Trump Xi Meeting 2026: 6 areas that will be closely watched at the bilateral

As US President Donald Trump prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, securing more reliable Chinese export licences for rare-earth materials and finalising an agreement to establish a bilateral Board of Trade have emerged as vital American priorities.Both objectives are linked to a broader US goal of making trade with China more predictable while protecting American industries from supply disruptions.&nbsp;Rare earths are particularly important because China controls approximately 90 per cent of global rare earth refining and nearly all processing of the heavy rare earths critical to the manufacturing of advanced technologies. Since April 2025, Beijing has used export licensing on elements like dysprosium, gadolinium, and yttrium as leverage in the broader tariff dispute.&nbsp;Even after the May 2026 Beijing summit, China’s rare earth export regime remains largely unchanged.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-russia-has-lost-control-of-its-diesel-industry-calls-for-end-to-ridiculous-never-ending-war-1789999050401">Trump says Russia has ‘lost control’ of its diesel industry, calls for end to ‘ridiculous, never-ending’ war</a>&nbsp;While the US government is investing in domestic processing capacity, consequential diversification away from Chinese supply is expected to take years.Securing timely and dependable licensing is a make-or-break deliverable for US manufacturers in autos, aerospace, medical devices, and defence.These materials are used in products ranging from electronics and electric vehicles to advanced manufacturing and defence equipment.&nbsp;<h2>Rare earths have become a strategic leverage point for Beijing</h2>&nbsp;Hence, these minerals have become a strategic leverage point for Beijing, especially after it restricted exports following previous trade tensions.&nbsp;China introduced tighter export controls on several critical minerals during the recent US-China trade tensions. While some shipments subsequently resumed, delays and restrictions have continued to bother American and other foreign buyers.&nbsp;&nbsp;As per reports, several Chinese rare earth suppliers have halted shipments to the US amid geopolitical tensions and fears of reprisals from Beijing, just weeks ahead of Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-document-details-broad-iran-cooperation-plan-across-finance-nuclear-and-aviation-sectors-report-1789995702968">Russian document details broad Iran cooperation plan across finance, nuclear and aviation sectors: Report</a>&nbsp;The US has raised concerns over China’s compliance, particularly as the availability of critical materials like yttrium, indium phosphide, and tungsten used across military, aerospace, semiconductor, and medical industries remains tightly constrained.&nbsp;Chinese rare earth shipments to Japan have dropped significantly, with terbium, gallium, and yttrium exports plummeting.&nbsp;<h2>Industry bodies pushing for more transparent export framework</h2>&nbsp;Industry bodies are pushing for a more transparent and predictable export framework to ensure stable access to these essential materials.&nbsp;China also reduced exports to Japan and Germany, citing geopolitical tensions. Besides, China’s export control licensing system is reportedly being used to collect intelligence on Western supply chain dependencies, raising security concerns.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ram-temple-donation-theft-caught-on-cctv-105-times-charge-sheet-to-be-filed-before-sept-25-1790008356491">Ram Temple donation theft caught on CCTV 105 times, charge sheet to be filed before Sept 25</a>&nbsp;Washington is also urging Beijing to relax rare earth export restrictions to Japan, which have disrupted global supply chains.The two sides are also finalising the framework for a bilateral Board of Trade to identify non-sensitive goods for potential tariff reductions.&nbsp;&nbsp;The US conceived the Board of Trade following broken promises of the past as Washington recognised China’s failure to follow through on previous purchase commitments and hence wanted a body of senior officials from both sides to oversee implementation and not trust verbal assurances alone.

Since April 2025, Beijing has used export licensing on elements like dysprosium, gadolinium, and yttrium as leverage in the broader tariff dispute. Even after the May 2026 Beijing summit, China’s rare earth export regime remains largely unchanged.

As US President Donald Trump prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, securing more reliable Chinese export licences for rare-earth materials and finalising an agreement to establish a bilateral Board of Trade have emerged as vital American priorities. Both objectives are linked to a broader US goal of making trade with China more predictable while protecting American industries from supply disruptions. Rare earths are particularly important because China controls approximately 90 per cent of global rare earth refining and nearly all processing of the heavy rare earths critical to the manufacturing of advanced technologies. Since April 2025, Beijing has used export licensing on elements like dysprosium, gadolinium, and yttrium as leverage in the broader tariff dispute. Even after the May 2026 Beijing summit, China’s rare earth export regime remains largely unchanged. Also Read: Trump says Russia has ‘lost control’ of its diesel industry, calls for end to ‘ridiculous, never-ending’ war While the US government is investing in domestic processing capacity, consequential diversification away from Chinese supply is expected to take years. Securing timely and dependable licensing is a make-or-break deliverable for US manufacturers in autos, aerospace, medical devices, and defence. These materials are used in products ranging from electronics and electric vehicles to advanced manufacturing and defence equipment. Rare earths have become a strategic leverage point for Beijing Hence, these minerals have become a strategic leverage point for Beijing, especially after it restricted exports following previous trade tensions. China introduced tighter export controls on several critical minerals during the recent US-China trade tensions. While some shipments subsequently resumed, delays and restrictions have continued to bother American and other foreign buyers. As per reports, several Chinese rare earth suppliers have halted shipments to the US amid geopolitical tensions and fears of reprisals from Beijing, just weeks ahead of Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington. Also Read: Russian document details broad Iran cooperation plan across finance, nuclear and aviation sectors: Report The US has raised concerns over China’s compliance, particularly as the availability of critical materials like yttrium, indium phosphide, and tungsten used across military, aerospace, semiconductor, and medical industries remains tightly constrained. Chinese rare earth shipments to Japan have dropped significantly, with terbium, gallium, and yttrium exports plummeting. Industry bodies pushing for more transparent export framework Industry bodies are pushing for a more transparent and predictable export framework to ensure stable access to these essential materials. China also reduced exports to Japan and Germany, citing geopolitical tensions. Besides, China’s export control licensing system is reportedly being used to collect intelligence on Western supply chain dependencies, raising security concerns. Also Read: Ram Temple donation theft caught on CCTV 105 times, charge sheet to be filed before Sept 25 Washington is also urging Beijing to relax rare earth export restrictions to Japan, which have disrupted global supply chains. The two sides are also finalising the framework for a bilateral Board of Trade to identify non-sensitive goods for potential tariff reductions. The US conceived the Board of Trade following broken promises of the past as Washington recognised China’s failure to follow through on previous purchase commitments and hence wanted a body of senior officials from both sides to oversee implementation and not trust verbal assurances alone.

Since April 2025, Beijing has used export licensing on elements like dysprosium, gadolinium, and yttrium as leverage in the broader tariff dispute. Even after the May 2026 Beijing summit, China’s rare earth export regime remains largely unchanged.

Explainer: Why rare-earth export licences and Board of Trade are US priorities ahead of Trump-Xi summit

From OpenAI CEO SAM Altman to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, the artificial intelligence industry leaders have largely been united in seeking a coordinated slowdown of AI development.&nbsp;Even as the doomsday debate intensifies, US President Donald Trump is viewing AI as a domain of competition with China.&nbsp;Framing calls for AI regulation as a 'sick conspiracy', Trump claimed that China is the only one happy about this.&nbsp;He also announced the formation of an AI force and boasted that America is leading China and would continue to do so...&nbsp;The US President said, “Whoever wins AI, wins.”&nbsp;Now, this has brought back into focus the US-China rivalry over AI, as Xi is set to meet Trump later this week.&nbsp;A few hours earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that his meeting with the Chinese vice premier over trade and AI was very successful.&nbsp;He added that US had proposed a mechanism with China pertaining to AI.&nbsp;The Chinese president outlined his vision for AI at the BRICS Summit earlier this month.&nbsp;Calling for evolving a consensus-based Global AI governance framework, Xi stated that China will be a pioneer in establishing a BRICS AI open source community.&nbsp;Now, US clearly leads China in terms of total market valuation of its artificial intelligence firms.&nbsp;For instance, Google and Meta's market valuation runs into trillions of dollars.&nbsp;This is followed by Anthropic and OpenAI.&nbsp;On the other hand, Alibaba ranks among China's top revenue-generating AI heavyweights, having a market value of 299 billion US Dollars.&nbsp;Next on the list are other firms like, DeepSeek and Moonshot.&nbsp;While America has a head start, China has been promoting its own low-cost AI models to the developing world.&nbsp;According to reports, tech giant Huawei offered Egypt to build a data centre powered by its own advanced computer chips.&nbsp;This prompted Washington to push a rival offer from a consortium LED by American companies, which finally clinched the deal worth one billion US Dollars.&nbsp;This competition is playing out across the globe.&nbsp;For instance, Brazil announced an investment of 444 million US Dollars to bolster its AI ecosystem splitting projects between US and Chinese tech firms.&nbsp;This was seen as a strategic move to balance ties with both superpowers.&nbsp;Even as fear spreads about the potential dangers of AI, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has emerged as Trump's key ally.&nbsp;Asserting that predictions of doom aren't grounded in science, Huang opined that model developers are responsible for securing their products before releasing them.&nbsp;This is not all. Trump called him while he was on the stage at an AI summit in Los Angeles.&nbsp;On that call which was put on speaker, Trump reiterated that robots are not going to be taking over and that concerns around AI and data centres are a hoax.&nbsp;Now, NVIDIA is a key player in the AI industry as it supplies the graphics processing units used by OpenAI, Anthropic and others to train their AI models.&nbsp;With growing concerns that AI could move beyond effective human supervision, all eyes will now be on the Xi-Trump meeting, to see whether they can take a step forward in ensuring AI regulation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined his vision for AI at the BRICS Summit earlier this month. Calling for evolving a consensus-based Global AI governance framework, Xi stated that China will be a pioneer in establishing a BRICS AI open-source community.

From OpenAI CEO SAM Altman to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, the artificial intelligence industry leaders have largely been united in seeking a coordinated slowdown of AI development. Even as the doomsday debate intensifies, US President Donald Trump is viewing AI as a domain of competition with China. Framing calls for AI regulation as a 'sick conspiracy', Trump claimed that China is the only one happy about this. He also announced the formation of an AI force and boasted that America is leading China and would continue to do so... The US President said, “Whoever wins AI, wins.” Now, this has brought back into focus the US-China rivalry over AI, as Xi is set to meet Trump later this week. A few hours earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that his meeting with the Chinese vice premier over trade and AI was very successful. He added that US had proposed a mechanism with China pertaining to AI. The Chinese president outlined his vision for AI at the BRICS Summit earlier this month. Calling for evolving a consensus-based Global AI governance framework, Xi stated that China will be a pioneer in establishing a BRICS AI open source community. Now, US clearly leads China in terms of total market valuation of its artificial intelligence firms. For instance, Google and Meta's market valuation runs into trillions of dollars. This is followed by Anthropic and OpenAI. On the other hand, Alibaba ranks among China's top revenue-generating AI heavyweights, having a market value of 299 billion US Dollars. Next on the list are other firms like, DeepSeek and Moonshot. While America has a head start, China has been promoting its own low-cost AI models to the developing world. According to reports, tech giant Huawei offered Egypt to build a data centre powered by its own advanced computer chips. This prompted Washington to push a rival offer from a consortium LED by American companies, which finally clinched the deal worth one billion US Dollars. This competition is playing out across the globe. For instance, Brazil announced an investment of 444 million US Dollars to bolster its AI ecosystem splitting projects between US and Chinese tech firms. This was seen as a strategic move to balance ties with both superpowers. Even as fear spreads about the potential dangers of AI, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has emerged as Trump's key ally. Asserting that predictions of doom aren't grounded in science, Huang opined that model developers are responsible for securing their products before releasing them. This is not all. Trump called him while he was on the stage at an AI summit in Los Angeles. On that call which was put on speaker, Trump reiterated that robots are not going to be taking over and that concerns around AI and data centres are a hoax. Now, NVIDIA is a key player in the AI industry as it supplies the graphics processing units used by OpenAI, Anthropic and others to train their AI models. With growing concerns that AI could move beyond effective human supervision, all eyes will now be on the Xi-Trump meeting, to see whether they can take a step forward in ensuring AI regulation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined his vision for AI at the BRICS Summit earlier this month. Calling for evolving a consensus-based Global AI governance framework, Xi stated that China will be a pioneer in establishing a BRICS AI open-source community.

US and China vie for AI dominance as calls grow for regulation | Gravitas

Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25 at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday. "At the invitation of President of the United States of America Donald J. Trump, President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in an official announcement. Xi’s visit comes as Washington and Beijing seek to manage tensions over trade, tariffs and other areas of strategic competition between the world’s two largest economies.&nbsp;Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng is already leading a delegation to the US for economic and trade consultations. His visit began on September 19 and is scheduled to continue through September 23. "The two sides will hold consultations on economic and trade issues of mutual concern, guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state," the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday.&nbsp;The timing of He’s visit means the economic and trade discussions will overlap with the beginning of Xi’s state visit to the US.Trump had on September 18 said Washington was making progress in its relationship with Beijing and indicated that he expected several agreements to be discussed when Xi visits the White House. “We’re doing very well with China. I would say others maybe not so well, but we’re doing very well with China. And President Xi and I have a good relationship. We’re going to have a lot of different deals,” Trump said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-s-united-russia-party-wins-355-seats-in-duma-election-beats-2016-tally-1789981460937">Putin's United Russia party wins 355 seats in Duma election, beats 2016 tally</a>&nbsp;“We intend, we're not just doing it for our health. We’re going to have some pretty important meetings,” he added. Trump also referred to the tariff dispute between the two countries, recalling that US tariffs on Chinese imports had previously reached 145 per cent before being reduced. “China is paying us a lot of tariffs. And, you remember, I had it up to 145% at one point, but it was too much. It was really hurting them badly, and I didn’t want to do that,” Trump said.&nbsp;Xi’s visit will mark his return to Washington after more than a decade and is expected to bring the leaders of the world's two largest economies together for discussions covering trade, artificial intelligence and Taiwan. The state visit follows Trump’s trip to Beijing in May, where Xi hosted the US president at the Great Hall of the People. The two leaders subsequently described their relationship as a “constructive, strategic and stable relationship”. Trump is now expected to reciprocate with full state-visit honours as Xi prepares for talks at the White House.

Xi Jinping will visit the US from September 23-25 at Donald Trump’s invitation as Washington and Beijing prepare for talks on trade, AI, tariffs and Taiwan

Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25 at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday. "At the invitation of President of the United States of America Donald J. Trump, President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in an official announcement. Xi’s visit comes as Washington and Beijing seek to manage tensions over trade, tariffs and other areas of strategic competition between the world’s two largest economies. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng is already leading a delegation to the US for economic and trade consultations. His visit began on September 19 and is scheduled to continue through September 23. "The two sides will hold consultations on economic and trade issues of mutual concern, guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state," the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday. The timing of He’s visit means the economic and trade discussions will overlap with the beginning of Xi’s state visit to the US. Trump had on September 18 said Washington was making progress in its relationship with Beijing and indicated that he expected several agreements to be discussed when Xi visits the White House. “We’re doing very well with China. I would say others maybe not so well, but we’re doing very well with China. And President Xi and I have a good relationship. We’re going to have a lot of different deals,” Trump said. Also Read: Putin's United Russia party wins 355 seats in Duma election, beats 2016 tally “We intend, we're not just doing it for our health. We’re going to have some pretty important meetings,” he added. Trump also referred to the tariff dispute between the two countries, recalling that US tariffs on Chinese imports had previously reached 145 per cent before being reduced. “China is paying us a lot of tariffs. And, you remember, I had it up to 145% at one point, but it was too much. It was really hurting them badly, and I didn’t want to do that,” Trump said. Xi’s visit will mark his return to Washington after more than a decade and is expected to bring the leaders of the world's two largest economies together for discussions covering trade, artificial intelligence and Taiwan. The state visit follows Trump’s trip to Beijing in May, where Xi hosted the US president at the Great Hall of the People. The two leaders subsequently described their relationship as a “constructive, strategic and stable relationship”. Trump is now expected to reciprocate with full state-visit honours as Xi prepares for talks at the White House.

Xi Jinping will visit the United States from September 23-25 at Donald Trump’s invitation, with trade, tariffs, AI and Taiwan expected to dominate talks

Xi Jinping to pay state visit to US from September 23-25: Chinese Foreign Ministry

Chinese president Xi Jingping will travel to US for a state visit this week. It is for the first time in a decade that Xi will make an official trip to Washington - September 23 to 25 - and hold talks with US President Donald Trump. According to White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly and senior U.S. officials, the event will revolve around bilateral diplomatic activities between Trump and Xi.&nbsp;As both the leaders meet, trade will also be the centre of focus among the two countries. Here's how much trade is there between US and China.&nbsp;Including both goods and services, the US in financial year 2025 exported about $163.2B to China and imported about $331.5B, producing an overall deficit of roughly $168.3B.&nbsp;Negotiators are expected to discuss further tariff reductions, including potentially removing or reducing China's 15% tariff on US LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) as part of a broader package involving energy and agriculture.&nbsp;In the field of agriculture China is committed to buying at least $17 billion annually of US agricultural products in 2026–28, in addition to soybean commitments made earlier.&nbsp;While in Defence China is expected to buy 200 Boeing aircraft, according to the US and Chinese announcements.&nbsp;<h2>US goods imports from China</h2>&nbsp;US goods imports from China that largely consist of electronics, machinery, and everyday consumer goods, totaled roughly $308.7 billion, despite trade tensions.&nbsp;Electrical and Electronic Equipment valued at over $84 billion, covering computers, smartphones, and lithium-ion batteries. Imports in machinery &amp; nuclear reactors stood at around $52 billion and consumer goods &nbsp;and toys, including games, sports equipment was $20+ billion.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the White House has officially released the schedule for Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington.&nbsp;On Wednesday (Sept 23), Trump will be present at the Joint Base Andrews, just outside Washington, to welcome Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan for the state visit.&nbsp;On Friday, the leaders will participate in a military review in the Rose Garden before their closed-door meeting which will revolve around bilateral diplomatic activities and trade relations.&nbsp;

In the field of agriculture China is committed to buying at least $17 billion annually of US agricultural products in 2026–28, in addition to soybean commitments made earlier.

Chinese president Xi Jingping will travel to US for a state visit this week. It is for the first time in a decade that Xi will make an official trip to Washington - September 23 to 25 - and hold talks with US President Donald Trump. According to White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly and senior U.S. officials, the event will revolve around bilateral diplomatic activities between Trump and Xi. As both the leaders meet, trade will also be the centre of focus among the two countries. Here's how much trade is there between US and China. Including both goods and services, the US in financial year 2025 exported about $163.2B to China and imported about $331.5B, producing an overall deficit of roughly $168.3B. Negotiators are expected to discuss further tariff reductions, including potentially removing or reducing China's 15% tariff on US LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) as part of a broader package involving energy and agriculture. In the field of agriculture China is committed to buying at least $17 billion annually of US agricultural products in 2026–28, in addition to soybean commitments made earlier. While in Defence China is expected to buy 200 Boeing aircraft, according to the US and Chinese announcements. US goods imports from China US goods imports from China that largely consist of electronics, machinery, and everyday consumer goods, totaled roughly $308.7 billion, despite trade tensions. Electrical and Electronic Equipment valued at over $84 billion, covering computers, smartphones, and lithium-ion batteries. Imports in machinery & nuclear reactors stood at around $52 billion and consumer goods and toys, including games, sports equipment was $20+ billion. Meanwhile, the White House has officially released the schedule for Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington. On Wednesday (Sept 23), Trump will be present at the Joint Base Andrews, just outside Washington, to welcome Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan for the state visit. On Friday, the leaders will participate in a military review in the Rose Garden before their closed-door meeting which will revolve around bilateral diplomatic activities and trade relations.

In the field of agriculture China is committed to buying at least $17 billion annually of US agricultural products in 2026–28, in addition to soybean commitments made earlier.

Xi-Trump meet: How much is the US, China bilateral trade and what is on agenda

From a trade-war ceasefire in South Korea to new economic mechanisms in Beijing, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have spent the past 11 months trying to manage one of the world's most consequential rivalries. Now, their Washington meeting puts that fragile arrangement to another test. When Donald Trump and Xi Jinping sit down in Washington on September 24, their meeting will mark the latest chapter in an 11-month cycle of negotiations between the leaders of the world's two largest economies.&nbsp;Xi Jinping arrives in the United States on September 23 for a state visit, with Trump expected to personally welcome him at Joint Base Andrews. The leaders' principal talks are scheduled for September 24, with tariffs, rare earths, artificial intelligence and the future of the US-China trade truce among the issues on the table. The encounter comes nearly a year after their meeting in Busan, South Korea, and four months after Trump's visit to Beijing. Across the three meetings, the pattern has been broadly consistent: de-escalation, new economic commitments and continued negotiations, but few signs that the fundamental US-China rivalry has been resolved.<h2>October 30, 2025: Busan, South Korea</h2><h3>The trade-war truce</h3>Trump and Xi's Busan meeting came after months of escalating tariffs and retaliatory measures. Their encounter produced a one-year trade truce aimed at pulling the world's two largest economies back from a deeper confrontation. Under the arrangement, Washington reduced some tariffs on Chinese goods, including the fentanyl-related tariff, while Beijing agreed to resume major purchases of US agricultural products, including soybeans, strengthen measures against fentanyl-related chemicals and pause or ease some new restrictions on rare-earth exports. The agreement also included a suspension of several Chinese retaliatory measures against US products and companies.<h3>What was achieved?</h3>The immediate escalation was halted. The agreement prevented the trade war from moving towards another major tariff escalation and gave businesses in both countries a period of greater predictability. But Busan did not produce a comprehensive settlement. The agreement was structured as a temporary truce, with several contentious issues left for further negotiations.Busan's legacy: Stop the escalation, buy time and reopen negotiations.<h2>May 14-15, 2026: Beijing, China</h2><h3>From truce to economic mechanisms</h3>Seven months later, Trump travelled to Beijing for talks with Xi, the first visit by a sitting US president to China since 2017.The Beijing summit sought to build on the Busan understanding and move the relationship towards a more structured economic framework. The two governments agreed to establish a US-China Board of Trade to address trade in non-sensitive goods and a US-China Board of Investment to provide a government-to-government channel for investment-related issues.&nbsp;There were also commitments involving critical minerals, US agricultural exports and Boeing aircraft. According to the White House, China committed to an initial purchase of 200 Boeing aircraft, while also agreeing to purchase at least $17 billion a year of US agricultural products in 2026, 2027 and 2028, alongside earlier soybean commitments. China also agreed to address US concerns over rare earths and other critical minerals.<h3>What was achieved?</h3>The Beijing meeting produced a broader economic framework than the Busan truce, particularly through the creation of new trade and investment mechanisms. But the summit did not eliminate the central sources of friction between Washington and Beijing. Questions remained over tariffs, technology, rare-earth controls, market access and the longer-term structure of the relationship. Beijing's legacy: Create mechanisms to manage economic competition while keeping the broader relationship stable.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-mysterious-lights-over-tehran-caught-on-video-drone-aircraft-or-something-else-1789967394276">WATCH | Mysterious lights over Tehran caught on video. Drone, aircraft or something else?</a><h2>September 23-25, 2026: Washington&nbsp;</h2><h3>The test of the truce</h3>Now Xi is heading to Washington. His September 23 arrival will be followed by the main Trump-Xi talks on September 24. Trump is expected to host a formal state ceremony and discussions with Xi, with economic and strategic issues dominating the agenda.The timing matters. The trade truce reached in Busan is approaching its November deadline, while Washington and Beijing are still negotiating its extension. US officials have also raised concerns about China's implementation of commitments involving rare-earth exports.<h3>What is on the table?</h3>Trade and tariffs: Both sides are discussing the possibility of reducing tariffs on selected non-sensitive goods, while seeking to preserve the broader trade relationship. Rare earths: China's control over critical minerals remains a major issue for Washington, particularly because rare earths are crucial to advanced manufacturing and technology supply chains.&nbsp;Artificial intelligence: The two countries have agreed to establish an AI dialogue mechanism covering issues including safety and national-security risks. A proposed notification mechanism for serious AI incidents is also being discussed. Agriculture and trade: Previous commitments on US agricultural purchases and broader market access remain part of the economic negotiations. Taiwan and strategic tensions: While economic issues are expected to dominate, Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive issues in the wider US-China relationship.<h3>What has Washington achieved, so far?</h3>Unlike Busan and Beijing, the Washington meeting has not happened yet. The key question is therefore not what Trump and Xi have already agreed to, but whether the two leaders can turn the arrangements of the previous 11 months into a longer-lasting framework. Recent negotiations have produced a Board of Trade and an AI dialogue mechanism, while discussions continue over tariffs, rare earths and the duration of the trade truce.<h2>From trade wars to managed competition?</h2>The trajectory of the three meetings tells a story of crisis management rather than a final settlement. Busan stopped the immediate escalation. Beijing attempted to put economic relations on a more structured footing. Washington now comes with the truce nearing a deadline and new areas of cooperation, particularly AI, entering the conversation.&nbsp;The relationship remains defined by a combination of cooperation and competition. The two governments have continued to negotiate even as disagreements persist over trade, technology, critical minerals and strategic issues.

Trump-Xi summit timeline: Track the key meetings in Busan, Beijing and Washington, the trade deals, rare earths, tariffs and what remains unresolved

From a trade-war ceasefire in South Korea to new economic mechanisms in Beijing, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have spent the past 11 months trying to manage one of the world's most consequential rivalries. Now, their Washington meeting puts that fragile arrangement to another test. When Donald Trump and Xi Jinping sit down in Washington on September 24, their meeting will mark the latest chapter in an 11-month cycle of negotiations between the leaders of the world's two largest economies. Xi Jinping arrives in the United States on September 23 for a state visit, with Trump expected to personally welcome him at Joint Base Andrews. The leaders' principal talks are scheduled for September 24, with tariffs, rare earths, artificial intelligence and the future of the US-China trade truce among the issues on the table. The encounter comes nearly a year after their meeting in Busan, South Korea, and four months after Trump's visit to Beijing. Across the three meetings, the pattern has been broadly consistent: de-escalation, new economic commitments and continued negotiations, but few signs that the fundamental US-China rivalry has been resolved. October 30, 2025: Busan, South Korea The trade-war truce Trump and Xi's Busan meeting came after months of escalating tariffs and retaliatory measures. Their encounter produced a one-year trade truce aimed at pulling the world's two largest economies back from a deeper confrontation. Under the arrangement, Washington reduced some tariffs on Chinese goods, including the fentanyl-related tariff, while Beijing agreed to resume major purchases of US agricultural products, including soybeans, strengthen measures against fentanyl-related chemicals and pause or ease some new restrictions on rare-earth exports. The agreement also included a suspension of several Chinese retaliatory measures against US products and companies. What was achieved? The immediate escalation was halted. The agreement prevented the trade war from moving towards another major tariff escalation and gave businesses in both countries a period of greater predictability. But Busan did not produce a comprehensive settlement. The agreement was structured as a temporary truce, with several contentious issues left for further negotiations. Busan's legacy: Stop the escalation, buy time and reopen negotiations. May 14-15, 2026: Beijing, China From truce to economic mechanisms Seven months later, Trump travelled to Beijing for talks with Xi, the first visit by a sitting US president to China since 2017. The Beijing summit sought to build on the Busan understanding and move the relationship towards a more structured economic framework. The two governments agreed to establish a US-China Board of Trade to address trade in non-sensitive goods and a US-China Board of Investment to provide a government-to-government channel for investment-related issues. There were also commitments involving critical minerals, US agricultural exports and Boeing aircraft. According to the White House, China committed to an initial purchase of 200 Boeing aircraft, while also agreeing to purchase at least $17 billion a year of US agricultural products in 2026, 2027 and 2028, alongside earlier soybean commitments. China also agreed to address US concerns over rare earths and other critical minerals. What was achieved? The Beijing meeting produced a broader economic framework than the Busan truce, particularly through the creation of new trade and investment mechanisms. But the summit did not eliminate the central sources of friction between Washington and Beijing. Questions remained over tariffs, technology, rare-earth controls, market access and the longer-term structure of the relationship. Beijing's legacy: Create mechanisms to manage economic competition while keeping the broader relationship stable. Also Read: WATCH | Mysterious lights over Tehran caught on video. Drone, aircraft or something else? September 23-25, 2026: Washington The test of the truce Now Xi is heading to Washington. His September 23 arrival will be followed by the main Trump-Xi talks on September 24. Trump is expected to host a formal state ceremony and discussions with Xi, with economic and strategic issues dominating the agenda. The timing matters. The trade truce reached in Busan is approaching its November deadline, while Washington and Beijing are still negotiating its extension. US officials have also raised concerns about China's implementation of commitments involving rare-earth exports. What is on the table? Trade and tariffs: Both sides are discussing the possibility of reducing tariffs on selected non-sensitive goods, while seeking to preserve the broader trade relationship. Rare earths: China's control over critical minerals remains a major issue for Washington, particularly because rare earths are crucial to advanced manufacturing and technology supply chains. Artificial intelligence: The two countries have agreed to establish an AI dialogue mechanism covering issues including safety and national-security risks. A proposed notification mechanism for serious AI incidents is also being discussed. Agriculture and trade: Previous commitments on US agricultural purchases and broader market access remain part of the economic negotiations. Taiwan and strategic tensions: While economic issues are expected to dominate, Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive issues in the wider US-China relationship. What has Washington achieved, so far? Unlike Busan and Beijing, the Washington meeting has not happened yet. The key question is therefore not what Trump and Xi have already agreed to, but whether the two leaders can turn the arrangements of the previous 11 months into a longer-lasting framework. Recent negotiations have produced a Board of Trade and an AI dialogue mechanism, while discussions continue over tariffs, rare earths and the duration of the trade truce. From trade wars to managed competition? The trajectory of the three meetings tells a story of crisis management rather than a final settlement. Busan stopped the immediate escalation. Beijing attempted to put economic relations on a more structured footing. Washington now comes with the truce nearing a deadline and new areas of cooperation, particularly AI, entering the conversation. The relationship remains defined by a combination of cooperation and competition. The two governments have continued to negotiate even as disagreements persist over trade, technology, critical minerals and strategic issues.

Trump and Xi have met twice in 11 months, from Busan's trade truce to Beijing's economic deals. Washington now tests whether the fragile detente can last

Trump and Xi, three meetings, 11 months: What changed from Busan to Beijing to Washington