President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are expected to meet at the White House on Thursday for a high-stakes summit covering trade, artificial intelligence and the Iran war. Analysts expect the talks to stay cautious and produce few major deliverables, even though the meeting carries real geopolitical risk.
Trump and Xi are expected to hold talks at the White House on trade, artificial intelligence and the Iran war, framed by displays of military fanfare and a state dinner. China analysts broadly expect the leaders' personal relationship and policy goals to produce a cautious summit with few major deliverables, even though the face-to-face carries real geopolitical risk.
A red-carpet welcome at Andrews
The significance of the visit showed the moment Xi arrived Wednesday evening at Maryland's Joint Base Andrews, where Trump greeted him on the tarmac after walking down a red carpet that U.S. service members had rolled out. It was Trump's first time traveling to the base to welcome a foreign leader, according to a source familiar with the president's plans who spoke to CNBC on condition of anonymity. The last president to make that gesture was Barack Obama, who greeted Pope Francis at Andrews 11 years ago this week.
Trump posted to Truth Social on Thursday morning that it was a "big day with President Xi of China". He also wrote that Super Intelligence would be a big discussion topic but said he wanted to leave it where it stands, adding that China holds the same position and that the Department of Justice serves as the guardrail.
Ceremony, a bilateral meeting, then a state dinner
Trump and first lady Melania Trump are set to welcome Xi and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan at the White House on Thursday morning for an arrival ceremony on the State Floor. It is Xi's first visit to Washington since September 2015, coming to the capital right after the pope.
The leaders then head to the Rose Garden for a military review, after which Trump and Xi hold a bilateral meeting while Melania Trump and Madame Peng attend a separate event. That evening, Trump and the first lady host the Chinese delegation for a state dinner in the White House's East Room, with both leaders expected to give remarks at the top of the event. A slew of U.S. business executives are slated to join the dinner.
Source: CNBC
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