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US President Donald Trump extended a warm welcome to Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday, setting the stage for a state summit that will focus on symbolism rather than significant accomplishments. The meeting marks the second time leaders of the world's two largest economies have met in 2023, but it is Xi's first visit to Washington in over a decade.

Trump greeted Xi upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews, a location not visited by a US president for foreign dignitaries since Barack Obama welcomed Pope Francis in 2015, according to C-SPAN.

Xi expressed optimism about fostering a more stable relationship between the United States and China, urging both nations to be "partners, not rivals." He emphasized that the historical logic of peaceful coexistence between the two countries remains unchanged. For Trump, this visit holds equal importance for national prestige and high-stakes diplomacy. The ceremony, planned to take place on the White House South Lawn, State Floor, and Rose Garden, is expected to be a display of grandeur.

While no major breakthroughs are anticipated, analysts suggest that the summit may lead to extensions of the ongoing trade truce set to expire in November and discussions on addressing the risks associated with artificial intelligence. Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, confirmed the extension of an agreement that temporarily halted a trade war, which saw mutual tariffs reach over 100%.

Discussions are also expected to cover the reduction of certain tariffs, combating drug trafficking, and expanding military-to-military dialogue. Trump aims to secure the release of detained Americans and others in China.

Former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell described the summit as a reenactment of historical "single combat," where two powerful leaders measure their strength against each other. The summit is seen as an opportunity for Xi, who is in a stronger position due to a surge in China's trade and control over rare earth minerals, to project strength. Campell noted that the summit resembles ancient single combat, with both leaders representing their civilizations and engaging in a toe-to-toe exchange.

Keeping ties stable, both leaders recognize the advantages of maintaining a stable relationship. Trump is currently engaged in the unpopular Iran war, while Xi is dealing with domestic economic challenges. However, unresolved issues like the Taiwan dispute, export controls, and AI could reignite tensions. Taiwan, a democratic island claimed by China, is the most contentious issue.

There are concerns that Trump may ease support for Taipei to secure economic gains, and Xi is expected to push for an end to arms sales to Taiwan. In return, China may leverage its position to pressure Iran, as sources briefed by Reuters suggest.

The leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing Iran war, but China seems hesitant to exert pressure on its ally, considering the impact on energy supplies and trade. The guest list for the state dinner includes prominent tech CEOs like Tim Cook from Apple, Jeff Bezos from Amazon, Sundar Pichai from Alphabet, Sam Altman from OpenAI, Elon Musk from Tesla, and Jensen Huang from Nvidia. Despite the impressive lineup, sources say Trump is likely to maintain strict export controls on US technology that Xi seeks to weaken.