Trump and Xi Meet in Washington: A Tactical Truce

Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Washington for a state visit hosted by President Donald Trump, who is extending unprecedented honors to his guest. The visit is seen as a significant diplomatic achievement for Beijing, which seeks to maintain stability in bilateral relations. Trump will greet Xi at the airport on Wednesday, a day before the official White House meeting, and has praised him as a "gentleman." The two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, though major deals are unlikely. For China, the visit itself is the primary victory, signaling a temporary easing of tensions between the two superpowers. Trump has largely abandoned his confrontational trade stance after China cut off rare earth exports, and he now faces domestic pressures ahead of midterm elections. Beijing aims to extend the current truce on export controls and use the period of stability to strengthen its industrial self-sufficiency, while Washington seeks China's help on issues like Iran and AI regulation.