Donald Trump rolls out red carpet for Xi Jinping as US, China eye deals on trade, AI and rare earths

On his visit to Washington, Xi Jinping called for US-China cooperation amid trade tensions. He was welcomed with military honors by President Trump. The visit highlights ongoing discussions on AI and trade, with some US leaders advocating for a slowdown in AI development amidst global competition.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged cooperation with Washington and Beijing as he arrived in the US capital on a state visit. "Our two countries should be partners rather than rivals," Xi said in written remarks published by state news agency Xinhua, adding that "the Chinese and US peoples have enjoyed long-standing friendly exchanges, and our interests are deeply intertwined".

Xi gets welcomed by Trump

Xi Jinping arrived in Washington on Wednesday, where he was met with a rare planeside greeting from Trump as the leaders of the two largest economies in the world eye key deals on trade, AI and rare earths. Trade has been one of the biggest flashpoints between the two superpowers, along with artificial intelligence.

Quick answers to key questions

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QUESTIONS

Trump and Xi are expected to discuss trade, AI technology, tariffs, rare-earth minerals, and military ties, among other significant topics.

The summit represents a critical opportunity to address ongoing trade tensions, AI competition, and strategic issues that could impact the global economy.

AI is becoming a central point of discussion as both nations recognize its implications for national security, economic power, and technological leadership.

While discussions on tariff reductions are anticipated, expectations for a major trade agreement are low, given the complexity of ongoing negotiations.

Rare-earth minerals are crucial for technology manufacturing, and China's dominance in this sector serves as an essential bargaining point in trade discussions.

According to the Associated Press, a 30 meter long red carpet was unfurled at the bottom of the staircase placed at the door of Xi's plane. A 21-person honor guard was arrayed on the sides of the carpet and Trump and first lady Melania Trump stood near a staircase on the side of the plane, where they greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, with handshakes. The welcome ceremony also included a flyover by two B-1 bombers, platoons from each military service, and a presentation of the flags and anthems of both countries.

An AFP report added that there were no Chinese CEOs in Xi's delegation, two sources told AFP, despite the fact that top US tech bosses, including the leaders of major AI companies, are set to attend Thursday's White House state banquet.

Ahead of Xi’s arrival in Washington, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the extension of the truce, under which the countries agreed to scale back tariffs and refrain from imposing new trade restrictions. The truce, which took effect last year, came after Trump struck a deal with Xi.

The agreement saw both sides agree to reduce tit-for-tat tariffs and for the United States to extend certain tariff exclusions.

“I don’t know whether a bigger deal can be done. I don’t know whether we will just roll the current deal,” Bessent said in an interview with Fox News.

Xi’s visit to the US comes at a time when the world is divided over AI development. While several tech leaders and politicians in the US, cutting across party lines, have called for a slowdown in AI development and put more safety guardrails, Trump has rejected warnings. Trump also argued that warnings about AI safety are a "hoax", and that enforcing an industry-wide slowdown would hand a crucial technological advantage to China.

Beijing, which still faces export controls that effectively locked it out of accessing the latest Nvidia chipsets, has also rejected calls to slow down AI development, claiming that it was a tactic designed to maintain American technological dominance amid increasing competition from low-cost open-source alternatives from Chinese tech companies.

About the Author

Bobins loves telling the human side of all stories, from the intersection of geopolitics, international relations, and conflicts around the world. In his nearly one-and-a-half-decade career as a journalist, Bobins has covered South Asia, the Middle East, and North America, from elections to mass protests and conflicts. <br> Bobins has also done extensive reporting on environmental issues, climate change, and sustainability, focusing on solutions and people working to make the planet a better place to live. <br> In 2018, Bobins was awarded by Times Internet for the impact of his story on Delhi tree cuttings. Bobins also loves telling the stories of Indian startups and the journey of their founders. <br> Total Years of Experience: 14 <br> Years of experience at LM: Bobins has been a part of Live Mint since February 2026 <br> Interests: When he is not tracking conflicts, Bobins loves to cook, travel across India, click photos, and watch documentaries on history. Past Experience: Before joining Live Mint, Bobins worked with The Indian Express, where he led the Global Breaking News coverage, Indiatimes, where he led the news team, covering everything trending, ANI, where the focus of his coverage was South Asia, and NBS News. <br> Current Role: Bobins is currently working as an Assistant Editor at Live Mint.

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