Xi wraps up US visit with trip to National Archives
September 25, 2026
Xi wraps up US visit with tea and trip to National Archives
On the final day of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the US, he and President Donald Trump, along with their spouses, are back at the White House for a tea session.
Then, the two leaders are scheduled to visit the National Archives, where the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are kept.
After the tour, Xi is expected to leave Washington.
On Thursday, Trump and Xi met for talks at the White House, followed by a state dinner later in the day.
However, DW's analysis shows that little progress was made at the summit on key issues of US-Chinese relations, such as trade tensions and AI regulation.
Trump-Xi summit: Results or just symbolism?
https://p.dw.com/p/5NIs4
Skip next section What you need to know about Xi's meeting with Trump in Washington so farSeptember 25, 2026
What you need to know about Xi's meeting with Trump in Washington so far
US President Donald Trump on Thursday rolled out the red carpet for China's Xi Jinping on the Chinese president's first state visit to Washington in over a decade.
Ahead of the meeting, Xi said the US and China "should be partners rather than rivals," while Trump hailed his "truly great friendship" with the Chinese president. However, no breakthrough was expected in the trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.
The talks centered on the Middle East, Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula, according to a statement by Beijing. The US has not provided details about the meeting.
After the talks, Xi attended a lavish state dinner with Trump and US tech executives, including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Tesla's Elon Musk.
Trump described the event as the "hottest ticket in town" and said the "entire tech world" and "entire banking world and a lot more" would attend.
On Friday, Xi is scheduled to visit the National Archives, where the US Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights are held.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NFKz
Skip next section Protesters gather in downtown Washington to protest Xi's visitSeptember 25, 2026
Protesters gather in downtown Washington to protest Xi's visit
A few hundred protesters gathered near the White House to rally against Xi Jinping's visit to the US.
Protesters highlighted a number of issues, from calls for religious freedom and autonomy in Tibet, Hong Kong and the Xinjiang region to demands that China refrain from interfering in Taiwan.
Protesters gathered in Lafayette Park, north of the White House, while other groups gathered outside the Chinese embassy. Pro-Xi rallies were also held in Washington.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NFFz
Skip next section Trump says he and Xi have 'never gotten along better' at dinner toastSeptember 25, 2026
Trump says he and Xi have 'never gotten along better' at dinner toast
Rana Taha
US President Donald Trump continued to heap praise on his guest, Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a White House state dinner on Thursday.
"President Xi and I both understand we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure, and we've never gotten along better," Trump said during his toast, adding that "together, we can continue to build a relationship that promotes prosperity and security for future generations."
Xi noted in his own toast that "President Trump has pledged to make America great again" and that "China is committed to achieving great national rejuvenation."
"These two goals are both ambitious and can surely be mutually reinforcing," Xi said.
Earlier discussions between Xi and Trump touched on tensions over Taiwan, trade and artificial intelligence.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NFEv
Skip next section State dinner includes tech-heavy guest list, but Chinese CEOs are missingSeptember 25, 2026
State dinner includes tech-heavy guest list, but Chinese CEOs are missing
Rana Taha
Apart from the heads of state and their spouses, the list of invitees to the state dinner included a host of big tech names.
Industry titans including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman, and Dell Technologies chairman and CEO Michael Dell were all in attendance.
If this sounds familiar, it's because a similar group of tech leaders also accompanied Trump on his state visit to China in May. Names such as Nvidia's Jensen Huang, former Apple CEO Tim Cook, and once again Musk, were hosted by the Chinese president at a state dinner in the Great Hall of the People.
But Chinese CEOs are conspicuously missing on the guest list this evening in Washington as bringing Chinese firms to the US may raise more questions than it answers, experts said.
The Associated Press reported that US and Chinese planners did discuss including notable Chinese companies, but that one obstacle was that the US side was slow to suggest protocols and what roles the Chinese CEOs would have in the state visit.
Just like on Thursday, despite the star-studded business attendance, few major deals were announced during Trump's visit to China.
Top US tech CEOs leave China with little to show
https://p.dw.com/p/5NFBE
Skip next section IN PICTURES: Trump hosts Xi at black-tie state dinnerSeptember 25, 2026
IN PICTURES: Trump hosts Xi at black-tie state dinner
Rana Taha
https://p.dw.com/p/5NF8R
Skip next section What's on the menu at Trump's state dinner for Xi?September 25, 2026
What's on the menu at Trump's state dinner for Xi?
Attention has now turned to the state dinner, a lighter-hearted event where everything from meal choices to seating arrangements will nevertheless be scrutinized for potential diplomatic intel.
"Everyone wants to be there," Trump said at the UN General Assembly. "It's the hottest ticket in town."
To start, the leaders and guests will dine on yellow squash veloute with wild mushrooms, fresh herbs, crispy pancetta and drizzled scallion oil.
The main course will be sesame-crusted sea bass with braised baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant and a sauce verte.
For dessert, the guests will be treated to vanilla cremeux with sour cherry confit and walnut frangipane, as well as ice cream with honey from the White House bee hives.
The guest list includes Silicon Valley titans like Apple's Tim Cook, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Tesla's Elon Musk and Nvidia's Jensen Huang.
"I would say you have the entire tech world, the entire banking world and a lot more," Trump told reporters earlier in the week.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NEpA
Skip next section US, Iran should return to talks under memorandum of understanding, Xi saysSeptember 25, 2026
US, Iran should return to talks under memorandum of understanding, Xi says
Chinese leader Xi Jinping said he supported the US and Iran's memorandum of understanding to end the Iran war, Xinhua state agency reported.
Xi said he expressed hope that the US and Iran would return to resolving issues through dialogue and negotiation under the agreement as soon as possible.
Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have held lengthy indirect talks with Iranian officials during the UN gathering earlier this week.
US and Iranian negotiators were exploring a phased path out of the war that would involve Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Washington lifting its economic blockade of Iran, Reuters reported.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NEvK
Skip next section Melania Trump, Madame Peng head to Asian art museumSeptember 24, 2026
Melania Trump, Madame Peng head to Asian art museum
First Lady Melania Trump and Xi's wife Peng Liyuan left their husbands behind to tour one of the largest Asian art museums in the US.
The visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art in Washington was supposed to celebrate cultural ties between the US and China.
Both wives are known for their focus on soft power and cultural issues, one is a former fashion model and the other a soprano.
A choir of young school children from the Hope Chinese School sang to the duo as they toured the building, singing famous Chinese folk songs including "Song and Smile" and "Jasmine Flower."
It's the first public meeting between the two spouses in nearly a decade, since a 2017 encounter in Beijing. A crowd had gathered on the sidewalk across from the museum, some waving Chinese and American flags.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NEY8
Skip next section Trump says the pair had a 'great meeting,' takes Xi inside presidential helicopterSeptember 24, 2026
Trump says the pair had a 'great meeting,' takes Xi inside presidential helicopter
Trump's first comments to reporters after the talks were brief in the extreme.
In response to shouted questions as he took Xi to board the Marine One presidential helicopter for a brief tour, he told reporters, "We had a great meeting."
Images from the meeting showed that Chinese Vice Premier Hi Lifeng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended at least part of the talks, as did US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Xi left the White House after the meeting, but will be back later for the state dinner.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NETC
Skip next section Xi tells Trump China's position on Taiwan and territory is 'crystal clear'September 24, 2026
Xi tells Trump China's position on Taiwan and territory is 'crystal clear'
China's Xinhua news agency is reporting comments it says Xi Jinping relayed to Donald Trump during their talks in the Oval Office.
Xi said he hoped the United States would continue to oppose "Taiwan independence" and handle the question of Taiwan with "prudence," according to Xinhua.
He reportedly told the US president that China's position on safeguarding its national unity and territorial integrity was "crystal clear."
The US holds a complicated position when it comes to Taiwan. On the one hand, it is the small island nation's most important security guarantor. However, it has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and does not recognize it as an independent country as part of its adherence to the so-called "one China" principle Beijing insists upon from all partners.
Xi also reportedly told Trump that China would support the US and Iran returning to negotiations "as soon as possible" as their naval standoff in the Persian Gulf drags well past the six-month mark.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NESy
Skip next section WATCH: How US, China could end the AI raceSeptember 24, 2026
WATCH: How US, China could end the AI race
Fabian von der Mark
As concerns grow over the rapid advance of artificial intelligence, experts are warning that the global race between the United States and China to develop ever more powerful AI systems could outpace safety measures.
DW explores fears over cybersecurity threats, autonomous AI behavior and even bioterrorism, while explaining why both Washington and Beijing see AI as a strategic priority.
With calls mounting for international oversight, what stance will US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping adopt?
How US, China could end the AI race
https://p.dw.com/p/5NEEb
Skip next section CNN, MS NOW, Politico journalists are back at White HouseSeptember 24, 2026
CNN, MS NOW, Politico journalists are back at White House
Hours after a federal judge ordered Trump to lift the ban, US news outlets CNN, MS NOW and Politico announced that they had been granted access to the White House.
Trump vs. the press: Who controls the story?
https://p.dw.com/p/5NEFO
Skip next section Trump and Xi begin talks in Oval OfficeSeptember 24, 2026
Trump and Xi begin talks in Oval Office
After delivering their opening remarks and reviewing the military troops in the Rose Garden, Trump and Xi proceeded to the Oval Office for discussions.
Other US and Chinese officials joined them.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NEDu
Skip next section China to send two pandas to Atlanta zoo, Xi saysSeptember 24, 2026
China to send two pandas to Atlanta zoo, Xi says
Speaking at the White House, Xi Jinping announced that a pair of pandas will soon make their home at Zoo Atlanta.
This isn't the first time Chinese pandas have been sent to a U.S. zoo. It's also an example of what's known as "panda diplomacy." Through this program, China lends the animals to select zoos around the world.
Xi also revealed that Beijing plans to invite 100,000 young Americans to visit China for cultural exchange and study over the next five years.
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