Xi Jinping begins US visit with unprecedented welcome from Trump

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States on Wednesday for a three-day visit, receiving an unprecedented welcome from President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump who broke protocol to greet him at Joint Base Andrews. This marks Xi's second summit with Trump in less than six months. The leaders are expected to discuss trade, technology, critical minerals, and broader US-China relations. Ahead of the talks, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced an extension of the trade tariff truce through January, following his meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Discussions also cover chip export licences, with Washington ruling out trading away rare earth export controls. Artificial intelligence is expected to be a central topic, including previewing new AI models and extending oversight to Chinese open-source systems. US officials continue pressing Beijing on fentanyl precursor chemical flows and the cases of Americans held in Chinese prisons. The visit follows Trump's May trip to Beijing, where both leaders agreed to a "constructive, strategic and stable relationship."