Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at the White House on Thursday to meet with Donald Trump, urging both superpowers to avoid a military collision and manage competition over artificial intelligence and trade while establishing a path of mutual gain during his rare state visit.
White House Arrivals and Red Carpet Pageantry
President Donald Trump welcomed Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to the White House on Thursday morning for a high-profile state visit. Trump took the unusual step of traveling to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland the previous evening to greet the Chinese leader on the tarmac.
Trump noted that Xi is the first Chinese leader to make a second state visit to the United States, following a previous visit in 2015 during the Barack Obama administration. The meetings coincide with the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.
Quite frankly, had the White House asked me for advice, I would have suggested the president not invite Xi Jinping to Washington for such a lavish welcome here in the United States of America based on all of the troubling issues we have with President Xi and the Chinese Communist Party.
via Associated Press
Avoiding the Thucydides Trap and Military Conflict
Opening formal talks in the White House, Xi called for extensive cooperation to steer the two competing superpowers away from a military collision. Citing Trump’s political catchphrase, Xi argued that achieving national rejuvenation for China and making America great again should complement each other rather than spark confrontation.
The Chinese president warned against conflict and invoked a historical concept to frame the bilateral relationship, suggesting that competition should remain healthy and structured around mutual respect rather than a zero-sum contest.
We should coexist in peace. China and the United States, as two major countries, stand to gain from cooperation and will both lose in confrontation. Our two militaries should maintain regular dialog and improve mechanisms for crisis communication and prevention.
Xi Jinping, President of China, via The Guardian
Xi also invoked the Thucydides trap
—referring to the Greek historian’s definition of tensions arising when an emerging power challenges an established power—a phrase he also raised during his meeting with Trump in Beijing in May. To foster people-to-people ties, Xi proposed inviting 100,000 young Americans to visit China on student exchanges.
Artificial Intelligence Governance and Trade Policy Tensions
Discussions during the summit touched heavily on security, trade, and artificial intelligence, a subject Trump recently rebranded as super intelligence
during an address to the United Nations General Assembly. Both leaders addressed the emerging technology during their opening remarks, with Xi stressing the human responsibility involved in managing advanced systems.
We have both the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good and ensure that the development of AI is always under human control and serves the well being of the people.
Xi Jinping, President of China, via Associated Press
Ahead of the summit, finance ministers met to discuss a proposed U.S. notification mechanism
for AI incidents. Meanwhile, economic frictions persist.
Panda Diplomacy Returns to Zoo Atlanta
Amid heavy geopolitical negotiations, Xi offered a gesture of cultural goodwill by confirming that two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, will arrive at an Atlanta zoo in the coming days.