China and the US still need each other despite trade tensions, Xi and Trump meet in Washington

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington Thursday for a summit with President Donald Trump, as both nations seek to manage tensions after months of trade war while remaining deeply interdependent. Trump seeks concrete results before November midterm elections, including Chinese purchases of 25 million tons of American soybeans annually through 2028, while needing China for rare earth minerals and industrial components. Xi prioritizes stability, as nine of China's ten energy suppliers face conflicts. Beijing also pushes Washington to adopt stronger language opposing Taiwan independence and to block a pending $14 billion arms sale to the island. Both nations pursue strategic autonomy, with China reducing dollar dependence and the US diversifying supply chains, yet their mutual needs persist.