US President Donald Trump has welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington for a three-day state visit, opening a closely watched round of talks between the leaders of the world's two largest economies.

Trump personally greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, in a high-profile arrival ceremony that included a red carpet, US service members and a military flyover. Xi's visit marks his first state visit to the United States in a decade.

The two leaders are scheduled to hold their main summit on Thursday, followed by a state dinner where both are expected to deliver speeches. Senior US technology executives are also expected to attend the dinner, highlighting the growing importance of artificial intelligence in the bilateral relationship.

Trade truce extended

Trade is expected to be a central issue during the talks. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington and Beijing had agreed to extend their existing trade truce by two months, giving both sides additional time to negotiate. The arrangement had been scheduled to expire on November 10.

The extension comes as the two governments continue to manage disputes over tariffs, economic policy and technology restrictions.

AI and technology tensions

Artificial intelligence is also expected to feature prominently in the summit. The presence of leading US technology executives at the state dinner underscores the economic and strategic importance of the issue.

The talks are also expected to touch on US restrictions on advanced technology exports to China. Xi is likely to raise Beijing's concerns about those controls, while Washington is expected to maintain its position on export restrictions.

Taiwan remains a sensitive issue

Taiwan is another major point of potential disagreement. Xi is expected to press Trump on the issue, while Washington has sought to manage the sensitive subject amid broader efforts to stabilize relations with Beijing.

The leaders are also expected to discuss the wars in Iran and Ukraine, adding broader international security issues to an already crowded agenda.

Xi calls for cooperation

Ahead of the summit, Xi called for the United States and China to work together rather than treat each other as rivals.

In a written statement published by China's state news agency Xinhua, Xi said the two countries should be "partners rather than rivals" and emphasized the depth of their economic and social connections. He said he looked forward to discussions with Trump on bilateral relations and major global issues.

Jimmy Lai case raised by Washington

The visit is also bringing human-rights issues into focus. A White House spokesperson said Trump wants Hong Kong pro-democracy advocate and media tycoon Jimmy Lai to be released from prison.

The United States urged Hong Kong authorities to grant Lai humanitarian parole. Lai, a British citizen, is serving a 20-year prison sentence under Hong Kong's National Security Law. Trump had previously raised Lai's case with Xi during their meeting in Beijing, according to the supplied report.

With trade, advanced technology, Taiwan and international conflicts all on the agenda, the Washington summit is expected to provide a major test of the US-China relationship while both governments seek to manage their differences and maintain dialogue.