Xi Jinping at the White House: Complete Trump-Xi plan, gift exchange and state dinner – What’s on the agenda? | Today’s news
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to make a high-profile visit to the White House on Thursday (September 24th) to hold talks with US President Donald Trump in what Trump described as a “big day” for both countries.
Xi is accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, with the White House preparing a formal welcome with a military ceremony, gift exchange, bilateral meetings and a state dinner.
The visit is expected to focus on several major areas of US-China relations, including artificial intelligence, trade and customs, Taiwan and broader geopolitical issues.
Here is the planned schedule for Xi Jinping’s visit to the historic White House.
10 a.m. US time: Trump welcomes Xi Jinping to the White House
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are scheduled to greet Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan at the White House.
The welcome will mark the formal start of Xi’s visit and is expected to be followed by an elaborate official arrival ceremony.
Trump and Melania will attend the ceremonial arrival of the Chinese president and his wife.
The ceremony is part of the White House’s state visit protocol and will include military honors for the visiting Chinese leader.
Gift exchange
Trump and Melania are scheduled to attend an official gift exchange with Xi and Peng.
The exchange will be part of a ceremonial program accompanying Xi’s visit to Washington.
Military exercise
Trump and Melania will watch the “silent drill squad” perform.
The event features an infantry rifle unit performing highly choreographed precision drills as part of a welcoming ceremony for the Chinese president.
Trump and Melania will attend a formal inspection of troops.
The ceremony is expected to provide another prominent visual element of Xi’s state visit before the two presidents embark on major diplomatic negotiations.
Bilateral negotiations
Trump and Xi are set to begin a bilateral meeting.
This will give the two leaders the opportunity to discuss the most sensitive issues directly before a larger meeting of members of their respective delegations.
AI is expected to be a big topic, with Trump calling the technology “SI” or “super intelligence” as he pushes his preferred terminology.
Discussions are also expected to cover broader US-China relations, including trade, tariffs, technology and Taiwan. The two sides are also engaged in broader geopolitical issues, including the wars in Iran and Ukraine.
Trade remains a key issue after Washington and Beijing agreed to extend their fragile trade truce by two months.
State dinner
Trump will host Xi Jinping for a state dinner later in the evening, marking the end of the Chinese president’s visit to the White House.
The dinner is expected to bring together senior US and Chinese officials, as well as prominent figures from the technology and business sectors.
Chinese President Xi Jinping
