Trump welcomes Xi to White House for talks on AI, security and trade

On Thursday, United States President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House for talks encompassing artificial intelligence, security, and trade concerns. Xi had arrived in Washington on Wednesday, marking his first visit to the US since 2023. The focal points of their discussions were anticipated to be trade tensions and advances in artificial intelligence.

The visit commenced on a positive note when US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a two-month extension of the trade truce between the two global superpowers. At the White House, Trump and Xi maintained a diplomatic and cooperative tone. Xi proposed inviting 100,000 US nationals to pursue studies in China. In return, China is planning to continue its panda diplomacy by sending two pandas to a US zoo as a symbol of friendship.

During the meeting, Trump mentioned that decisions would be made on key issues including security, technology, and super intelligence—his new term for AI. He emphasized that "the decisions we make in these areas today can promote peace and prosperity for decades and decades to come." Xi, according to a written statement from China’s Xinhua news agency, reiterated the importance of partnership over rivalry.

He stated that 2024 is a critical year for US-China relations, urging both nations to maintain stable relations through cooperation, moderate competition, resolving differences, and pursuing peace. The pair were scheduled to engage in bilateral talks after their White House reception, followed by a state dinner on Thursday evening where US tech industry leaders were present.