Trump To Host Xi At White House Amid Pomp, Low Expectations

With the US military honor guard rehearsing and a new White House helipad ready, attention is turning to whether US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping can achieve a breakthrough when they meet at the White House on September 24.

Xi’s first White House talks with Trump come amid mounting tensions over artificial intelligence, with Washington and Beijing competing for technological dominance and grappling with concerns over the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems.

The war in Iran is another major issue expected to cast a shadow over the summit. China is seeking to avoid potential US sanctions targeting countries that deal with Tehran. Reports have also alleged that Chinese entities provided Iran with intelligence linked to an attack on US forces, though Trump has played down the claims.

Trade will be another key area of discussion. The world’s two largest economies continue to manage the fallout from Trump’s tariffs, while disagreements over Taiwan remain a major source of tension.

At the heart of the summit is the broader US-China rivalry, with Washington seeking to maintain its global position and Beijing pursuing greater influence in the 21st century.

“I’ll be discussing almost everything with him,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, ahead of the September 24 meeting.

‘Don’t Expect Much’

Despite the wide-ranging agenda, experts expect the summit to focus more on maintaining the existing truce between Washington and Beijing than on producing major agreements.

“I don’t expect much to come out of this,” Jonathan Czin of the Brookings Institution told AFP.

He said the meeting could largely resemble Trump’s May visit to Beijing, where attention centred heavily on the relationship between the two leaders.

AI is expected to feature prominently, with both sides potentially discussing cooperation on regulation and measures to manage the risks associated with the technology.

However, major agreements could remain difficult to achieve.

“Politically out of reach for now,” is how Peking University professor Wang Dong described the prospects for major AI deals, citing concerns in both capitals about falling behind in the race for technological leadership.

Iran And Sanctions On The Agenda

Iran is also expected to feature in the summit discussions.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng this weekend for pre-summit talks that are expected to include Iran-related sanctions.

Trump has dismissed reports that Chinese entities provided Iran with satellite imagery used in an attack on a US military base in Jordan.

“Xi has behaved reasonably well,” Trump said, adding that “we spy on them, too.”

Trade Talks Could Yield Limited Progress

Trade remains one of the most immediate areas where Washington and Beijing could seek practical agreements.

“There is room for progress on tariffs, agricultural purchases and selected export controls,” Yue Su of The Economist Intelligence Unit told AFP.

However, the broader trade relationship remains complicated by Trump’s tariff policies and China’s concerns over restrictions on strategic exports and technology.

White House Welcome To Xi

The summit is also expected to carry significant ceremonial elements.

“This is less a summit and more a spectacle. This is designed for deep public consumption,” said Kurt Campbell, former US deputy secretary of state and now chairman of The Asia Group.

Trump has pushed for a new granite helicopter landing pad on the White House South Lawn to be completed in time for Xi’s visit. The Chinese president is also expected to attend a state dinner.

Military personnel in ceremonial uniforms have been rehearsing ahead of the welcome ceremony.

Trump’s new $400 million White House ballroom, however, will not be ready for the visit. Trump has previously said the completed facility would “top” Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, where Xi hosted him during his May visit.

Taiwan Remains The Biggest Flashpoint

The Taiwan issue remains among the most sensitive subjects in US-China relations.

During Trump’s May visit to Beijing, he publicly praised Xi, while the Chinese president warned about the possibility of “conflict” over Taiwan.

Beijing claims Taiwan as part of China, while the island has maintained its self-government for decades. Concerns over a potential Chinese military action against Taiwan continue to be closely watched in Washington and across the region.

Wang said Taiwan would remain a particularly sensitive issue in the US-China relationship.

More Leaders’ Meetings Could Be Announced

One potential outcome of the summit could be agreement on additional meetings between the two leaders.

Trump and Xi are expected to meet again in November at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Shenzhen, China.

The Kremlin has also suggested a possible three-way meeting involving Trump, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump is meanwhile expected to invite Xi to the G20 summit scheduled for December at his Doral resort in Miami.

The September 24 meeting therefore comes with a broad agenda spanning AI, Iran, trade, Taiwan and the wider US-China strategic rivalry, but whether it produces substantive agreements or mainly reinforces the current diplomatic truce remains to be seen.