US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are preparing for talks in Washington as the two countries seek to manage disagreements over trade, artificial intelligence, Iran and Taiwan.
Xi’s visit, scheduled for September 23–25, will be his first trip to Washington in a decade. The meeting comes as both governments continue to compete over technology and trade while maintaining dialogue on areas where cooperation remains possible.
Trade is expected to remain an important issue. Although some of the tariffs imposed during previous trade disputes have been reduced, the United States and China continue to maintain restrictions affecting selected goods, companies and technologies.
Artificial intelligence is another major point of discussion. Washington has continued to restrict exports of some advanced AI chips to China, while Beijing has raised concerns about dependence on foreign technology. The two countries have nevertheless begun discussing ways to manage risks associated with AI and establish communication channels around major AI-related incidents.
Geopolitical issues are also expected to feature in the discussions, particularly Iran and Taiwan. The two governments have different positions on both issues, making them sensitive areas in the broader US-China relationship.
The talks come during a period of heightened diplomatic activity, with world leaders gathering in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. Other international issues, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, are also dominating discussions among global leaders.
The Trump-Xi meeting will therefore be closely watched for any agreements on trade, technology and other areas of tension, as well as indications of how the world’s two largest economies intend to manage their increasingly competitive relationship.
