Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to bring a large economic delegation to the United States later this month, signaling a commitment to improving investment and commercial relations. Ahead of the U.S.-China summit, both countries are also pursuing dialogue in military and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors as they coordinate for the meeting.
Ahead of the summit, discussions on economy, military, and AI are underway
According to Reuters, President Xi plans to accompany a delegation of prominent Chinese business leaders to his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on September 24.
This move is considered unusual given the U.S. wariness towards Chinese investments. It reflects China's intention to support investments in the U.S. and build commercial ties, while also potentially offering economic benefits to the White House ahead of the midterm elections.
Xi last visited the U.S. with a large economic delegation in 2015, which included Alibaba founder Jack Ma and Tencent Chairman Ma Huateng, among other high-ranking officials from state-owned enterprises. That visit resulted in contracts worth $38 billion, including the purchase of 300 Boeing aircraft.
In the lead-up to the summit, high-level military communications between the U.S. and China are also resuming. On August 31, General Yang Zhi of the Chinese People's Liberation Army met with U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Samuel Paparo in Victoria, British Columbia, to emphasize the importance of maintaining communication channels to reduce the risk of miscalculations. This marks the first contact between senior military commanders from both nations since September 2024.
Additionally, the U.S. and China are planning to hold a bilateral dialogue focused on AI in mid-September. This will be the first official meeting on AI issues since Trump's second term began, with discussions expected to cover safety risks and cyberattack prevention.
Despite trade and investment disagreements, limited agreements are expected
However, experts believe that while both countries are coordinating on trade and investment issues, significant progress is unlikely at the upcoming summit.
During Trump's visit to China in May, the two leaders agreed to establish trade and investment committees to manage ongoing issues. Nevertheless, the investment climate for Chinese companies in the U.S. has deteriorated, and disagreements remain over which products should be classified as 'non-sensitive items,' making major breakthroughs at the summit improbable, according to Reuters.
Nonetheless, limited achievements are anticipated in areas such as tariffs, agriculture, rare earths, and non-tariff barriers. Reports indicate that the U.S. is seeking to secure expanded export licenses for rare earths to American companies, while China is demanding further tariff reductions.
Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, also indicated on September 3 that there would be "some announcements" regarding agriculture and non-tariff barriers during the summit.
Meanwhile, President Trump has publicly welcomed Xi's visit and expressed optimism about the summit. On September 4, he told reporters that Xi would visit the U.S. with his wife, Peng Liyuan, and announced plans for a state dinner in Xi's honor on September 24. Trump stated he is "very much looking forward" to Xi's visit, noting that while China is a competitor, his relationship with Xi is very good. However, the Chinese government has yet to officially announce Xi's travel schedule.
In preparation for Xi's visit, Trump is also accelerating renovations at the White House. Reports from local media, including The Washington Post, indicate that construction on a new helicopter landing pad on the South Lawn and modifications to nearby access roads are set to be completed this week, while work on a new East Room is ongoing.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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