Xi Jinping Heads to Washington as US-China Tech Rivalry Intensifies

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington this week for his first visit to the United States in a decade, a trip that underscores the paradox at the heart of the relationship: the two powers are meeting even as their economic and technological competition sharpens.

It will be the second encounter between Xi and US President Donald Trump in six months, following their May meeting in Beijing. Neither side is expected to reach a sweeping agreement, but both leaders are likely to project goodwill as they try to keep a fragile relationship on an even keel.

The visit follows a period of relative calm after last year's punishing trade war, in which the two countries exchanged steep tariffs that rattled the global economy. China also restricted its supplies of critical minerals, which are essential to products ranging from electric vehicles to fighter jets.

Da Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, described the relationship as broadly stable despite persistent frictions. He said the two sides need to put "more meat on the bone" and warned that progress since the May summit had been too slow. "The clock is ticking, so we need to move fast," he said.

Artificial intelligence has emerged as a central arena of competition. Both governments have shown little appetite for slowing their development, even as technology executives warn about the risks that advanced AI could pose. Trump has repeatedly said that whoever wins AI wins.

Da said the leaders might be willing to discuss cooperation on AI, but that implementing any agreement would be difficult. He pointed to the problem of verification: if one side slows down, it cannot be sure the other will follow, and each may see such proposals as a trap because of mutual distrust.

Days before the summit, the two countries took a modest step toward cooperation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said after talks in New York with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng that Washington had proposed a new notification mechanism for AI incidents that could affect national security.

Any easing of export controls still appears unlikely. The US has recently targeted Chinese telecommunications and surveillance equipment, companies accused of using forced labor in Xinjiang, and China's advanced robots and drones. The Pentagon has barred major Chinese firms, including Alibaba, BYD and Baidu, from receiving US defense contracts. Beijing has responded with export controls on drones and related technologies and by blacklisting six American companies.

Da also offered a measured view of Trump's negotiating style, calling him unconventional. "For good part, he can break those taboos. For bad part, he cannot have his idea be really implemented by the team," he said.

In Beijing, residents offered a mix of confidence and caution. Zhou Liyan said US sanctions may have pushed China toward self-reliance and stronger technological advances, adding that the invitation itself showed China's growing strength was unstoppable. Dai Xuyong noted that frequent communication between the leaders reflected the differences that remain. Song Yi said an agreement would be welcome but worried that the other side might fail to keep its promises, as has happened before.