Trump Hosts Xi for State Dinner Amidst Tensions Over Trade and Tech
US-China relations are set to take center stage next week as President Donald Trump hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state dinner in Washington. The event will also see high-profile executives from top US companies attend, including JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Citigroup chief Jane Fraser.
The meeting comes at a critical juncture in the US-China relationship, with tensions over trade and technology expected to dominate discussions. Artificial intelligence (AI) is one area that will be under scrutiny, as well as China's stockpiles of rare earth minerals, which have become an important point of leverage in the US-China trade dispute.
Fraser was part of the US delegation of business leaders who accompanied Trump during his trip to Beijing in May. Other executives invited to the dinner include Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell, and former Apple's Tim Cook.
The visit marks Xi's first state visit to the United States in more than a decade. The main events are scheduled for Thursday, with Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcoming Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at a formal arrival ceremony at the White House.