President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to Washington on 24 September for a state visit, with artificial intelligence (AI) expected to dominate the agenda. The trip reciprocates Trump’s May visit to Beijing, where the invitation was extended, and comes as both governments work to establish a new trade board designed to manage tariff reductions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on the margins of an ASEAN gathering in Manila on Wednesday, describing their talks as laying the groundwork for a “very positive visit” and identifying the trade board as a potential concrete deliverable before the September summit.

Viewed from Washington, the visit is framed as a moment to assert US primacy in the AI race. Trump, speaking at the Environmental Protection Agency, called AI “the biggest thing anybody’s ever seen” and insisted the United States “will not be second to anyone.” The administration has linked the technology to its broader energy and data-centre strategy, and the president’s remarks signalled that AI competition with China will be a central theme. At the same time, US officials have not stepped back from recent accusations that Beijing illegally obtained voter records and sought to influence past elections—claims the Chinese foreign ministry dismissed as having “no factual basis.”

Chinese state readouts characterised the Wang-Rubio meeting as “pragmatic, positive and constructive,” with Wang urging Washington to “respect China’s core interests” and manage differences effectively. Beijing’s commerce ministry confirmed that both sides are soliciting industry feedback on reciprocal tariff cuts under the new board of trade, a process that involves American and Chinese firms and business associations. Analysts in Shanghai note that the board’s framework, functions and operational model are still being negotiated, but the public consultation signals a mutual interest in preventing further trade escalation ahead of the leaders’ meeting.

The September visit is part of a broader diplomatic calendar that may include up to four full-format encounters between the two presidents in 2026, according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. These could encompass a G20 summit in Miami and a possible Trump appearance at the APEC forum in China. While the relationship remains strained by disputes over Taiwan, Iran and election-security allegations, the institutional scaffolding of the trade board and the high-level dialogue on AI suggest both capitals are seeking to channel competition into structured negotiation. The White House has yet to release a detailed programme for Xi’s visit, but the 24 September date is now fixed, and officials on both sides indicate that deliverables on trade and technology cooperation are under active preparation.