WASHINGTON — Chinese leader Xi Jinping concluded his first formal trip to Washington in 11 years Friday, ending a state visit with President Donald Trump that emphasized ceremony over substantive agreements.
The three-day visit featured extensive pageantry. Trump greeted Xi on the airport tarmac, a rare diplomatic gesture. The leaders and their spouses attended a state dinner, shared tea, and toured the National Archives.
The two leaders extended an existing trade pact set to expire soon. Xi also promised to send a pair of pandas to Atlanta, according to official accounts of the visit.
The summit produced no agreements on several key challenges. There were no promises of new Chinese purchases, no joint understanding on artificial intelligence risks, and no consensus on the war in Iran or other complex international issues.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the United States and China agreed to continue their trade truce until Jan. 10—a two-month extension of an agreement signed last year.
Beijing's official account noted that Xi mentioned a new joint arrangement on bilateral trade without specifying details or a date. The original truce, established after Trump and Xi met in Busan, South Korea, reduced U.S. tariffs and suspended China's controls on exports of rare earths and critical minerals.
Many observers had anticipated a longer, six-month extension. China experts indicated that the shorter timeframe could provide both sides negotiating leverage for future discussions.
Scott Kennedy, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who focuses on the Chinese economy, said Trump sought to maintain stability before domestic political pressures intensified. Kennedy noted record-high interest rates and Trump's desire to avoid further market volatility.
Hai Zhao, a director of international political studies at the state-affiliated Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, described the visit as successful and said Chinese citizens were pleased to see Xi well received in Washington.
Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet twice more this year: at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen in November and at the G20 summit in Miami in December.
Kennedy cautioned that the apparent calm during the visit may not persist into the new year. He said underlying tensions remain and will surface after the upcoming meetings, and China's rhetoric has shown increased confidence.
