rki.news | Source Anadolu
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold high-stakes talks Thursday in Washington, with trade, rare earth minerals, artificial intelligence and wider geopolitical tensions expected to feature prominently.
Trump welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington on Wednesday, marking a rare gesture for a visiting foreign leader. It was reportedly the first such reception of a foreign leader on the base tarmac by a US president since at least 1962.
Xi’s three-day state visit is his first state visit to Washington in more than a decade and comes amid an extension of a US-China trade truce until Jan. 10. Under the arrangement, Washington suspended higher reciprocal tariffs and reduced some fentanyl-related duties, while Beijing eased restrictions on critical minerals.
Artificial intelligence is also expected to feature in the talks, alongside issues including Taiwan, Iran, Ukraine and North Korea.
Trump will host Xi at the White House for an official welcome and military review before closed-door and delegation-level discussions. The day will conclude with a state dinner hosted by Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
US technology and business leaders including Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Tim Cook and Sam Altman are expected to attend.
The leaders are scheduled to meet again Friday before Xi departs Washington.
