Trump and Xi come face-to-face as US and China battle to win the AI race

In a significant diplomatic event, United States President Donald Trump is hosting Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit in Washington, with discussions expected to cover critical areas such as artificial intelligence, trade disputes, and the ongoing war in Iran. The summit, taking place from September 23-24, 2026, marks Xi's first state visit to the U.S. in over a decade and is the third in-person meeting between the two leaders in less than a year, following a May summit in Beijing.

President Trump extended a rare planeside welcome to President Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews, signaling the importance of the high-stakes talks. The agenda for the meetings at the White House includes efforts to ease trade tensions, further discussions on the race for AI dominance, and strategies for global competition. The leaders are also expected to address the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran and the future of Taiwan, among other geopolitical issues.

While expectations for major breakthroughs remain tempered, the summit aims to maintain a "constructive strategic stability" between the two global powers and prevent further escalation of hostilities. The extensive schedule includes a state dinner at the White House and a visit to the National Archives, with both countries anticipated to issue separate statements at the conclusion of the visit.