Xi Jinping to Visit Washington for Meeting with President Trump

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Washington on September 24 for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. According to sources, President Xi will bring a large delegation of CEOs on the visit. Wang Hsin-hsien, director of National Chengchi University's Institute of International Relations, stated that domestic political considerations in both nations are likely to drive the agenda. Wang noted that President Trump may seek commitments from China to purchase more U.S. products, such as soybeans, beef, and Boeing aircraft, ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Simultaneously, President Xi may seek to demonstrate his ability to manage relations with Washington before major Communist Party meetings in China.

The upcoming summit is expected to cover a wide range of issues, including tariffs, trade, technology, supply chains, and the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. Wang suggested that Taiwan may receive less attention than it did during the first meeting in Beijing. Other analysts, including Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, have expressed low expectations for breakthroughs, describing the relationship as one of transactions without trust. Potential points of contention include China's trade surplus and U.S. plans to sanction business partners of Iran.