Trump hosts Xi for state visit as trade truce extended
President Donald Trump hosts Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday for a ceremonial state visit, having agreed that no new controls are needed on AI technology. Trump greeted Xi at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, a first for a US president in over six decades. The visit includes a South Lawn welcome, military flyover, Oval Office talks, and a state banquet, though tensions persist over trade and Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a two-month extension of the trade truce, and Xi urged cooperation, saying the nations should be "partners rather than rivals." Few breakthroughs are expected, with the visit focused on spectacle over substance. The agenda includes a Rose Garden military inspection, gift exchange, and a state dinner with top US tech executives, while Taiwan and AI remain key discussion topics.