Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a major Washington visit as the two countries seek to manage tensions over trade, technology and global security.

WASHINGTON — September 24, 2026 — President Donald Trump is hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House Thursday for a high-profile state visit, marking Xi’s first visit to Washington in more than a decade.

Xi arrived in the Washington area Wednesday and received an unusual planeside welcome from Trump at Joint Base Andrews. The two leaders are meeting Thursday as Washington and Beijing seek to manage disagreements involving trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and the war in Iran.

The White House has scheduled a formal State Arrival Ceremony featuring military personnel, national anthems and a military review. A state dinner is also planned for Thursday evening, followed by a private meeting and National Archives visit on Friday.

The visit comes after U.S. and Chinese officials agreed to extend their existing trade truce, giving both sides additional time to negotiate broader economic issues. The extension was announced as Xi arrived in Washington.

Beyond trade, the leaders face disagreements over advanced technology and AI, Taiwan, critical minerals and U.S.-China relations with Iran. AP reports that neither side is publicly signaling a major comprehensive agreement from the summit, although both governments have an interest in maintaining dialogue.

The meetings will be closely watched in Washington and internationally as the United States and China attempt to manage competition while keeping diplomatic channels open.