Washington, Sept 24:
US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington on Wednesday for a three-day visit, with trade, technology, Taiwan and Iran among the major issues surrounding the talks between the world’s two largest economies.
Xi’s visit is his first trip to the United States in nearly three years and comes at a sensitive point in bilateral relations. The two countries have been trying to manage tensions through an 11-month trade truce, while disagreements remain over technology restrictions, tariffs and strategic issues in the Indo-Pacific.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington and Beijing had reached an understanding to extend the trade truce. The announcement came as Trump personally greeted Xi at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, signalling the importance attached to the Chinese leader’s visit.
The arrival ceremony included a military band, a 21-gun salute and a B-1 bomber flyover. Trump and Xi, accompanied by their wives, shook hands and spoke briefly before posing for photographs.
The summit is not expected to resolve all differences between the two countries. However, the extension of the trade truce could provide additional time for negotiations and reduce the immediate risk of another escalation in economic tensions.