Xi's US visit: Red carpet, but limited gains

President Xi Jinping's summit with Donald Trump yielded a red-carpet welcome but limited concessions, as the trade truce was extended only from November to January, far short of Beijing's hoped-for year. Key disputes on tariffs, rare earths, and advanced chips remain unresolved. China sought progress on trade, technology, and Taiwan, but the short extension signals Washington wants more from Beijing before offering longer-term deals. Xi faces domestic economic strain, including high youth unemployment and slumping property prices, making export access critical. On Taiwan, Xi reiterated opposition to independence, while Trump has not publicly responded. Talks on AI produced no concrete safeguards, though panda diplomacy resumed with two pandas heading to Atlanta. The summit's optics boosted Xi's image at home, but superpower competition remains intense.