China’s Xi set to begin visit to US

Diplomacy / 24 September 2026 China’s President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington for state visit 24 September 2026 Middle East / 24 September 2026 Israeli right tries to bar Arab and leftist parties from elections 24 September 2026 Central Africa / 24 September 2026 Congo running short of health workers as Ebola crisis deepens 24 September 2026 Latin America / 24 September 2026 President Milei renews Argentina’s Malvinas claim at United Nations 24 September 2026 Workers’ Rights / 24 September 2026 Canadian unions oppose changes to country’s labour code 24 September 2026 Latin America / 24 September 2026 Venezuela’s acting leader promises new elections 24 September 2026 CHINA’S President Xi Jinping is set to begin his visit to Washington today.

President Xi is expected to be greeted personally by US President Donald Trump at Andrews Air Force Base, followed later by a formal welcoming ceremony at the White House.

The trip marks President Xi’s first state visit to the US in just under a decade and his third meeting with Trump since the US president began his second term in office.

The visit, which ends on Friday, is expected to cover trade and artificial intelligence and comes as the Chinese push for a strengthened role for the United Nations in global governance.

Chinese and US officials held trade talks on the sidelines of the United Nations general assembly on Tuesday but reportedly failed to make any meaningful progress ahead of President Xi’s visit.

The talks focused on finding areas of agreement around non-tariff trade issues and agricultural exports, according to sources familiar with White House thinking.

Talks are expected to continue on Wednesday.

Another likely talking point between the two leaders is artificial intelligence.

China and the US are competing in what has been described as an AI arms race. 

President Trump, who views defeating China in the AI race as a primary objective, said: “Whoever wins AI, wins.”

Meanwhile, Beijing said that it hopes to work with the international community to reinvigorate the authority and role of the UN in strengthening global governance, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

President Xi will not attend the UN general assembly. China will be represented by Vice-President Han Zheng, who will take part in the general debate.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular news briefing that the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, with transformation and turbulence intertwined and risks and challenges continuing to emerge.

He said that the role of the UN was of greater importance as an opportunity for countries to build political consensus and co-ordinate multilateral action.

Mr Guo noted that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of “the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in the UN,” and Mr Han will set out China’s views and positions on the international situation, major international and regional issues, and the work of the UN.

Mr Guo said: “Mr Han will also outline China’s actions to uphold true multilateralism and promote world peace and development, as China seeks to strengthen global co-operation toward building a community with a shared future for humanity.” 

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