Trump-Xi 2026 Summits

Following President Trump and President Xi Jinping’s May summit in Beijing, the two leaders are set to meet again this September at the White House. Here, CSIS experts offer analysis on a range of issues expected to be on the agenda. Follow this page for analysis as the summit unfolds.

Upcoming Event

Press Briefing: Previewing the Trump-Xi Summit

September 17, 2026 • 10:00 – 11:00 am EDT
Webinar

CSIS will host a virtual press briefing to preview the anticipated Trump-Xi summit at the White House.

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Looking back: Analysis on May 2026 Summit

What a Difference 9 Years Makes: Why China is Confident Going into the Trump-Xi Summit | China Pulse

Video — May 11, 2026

Photo: Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images

Photo: Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images

What the Trump-Xi Summit Revealed, and Left Unsaid, About U.S.-China Tech Competition

The Trump-Xi summit revealed how little progress has been made on the most consequential dimensions of U.S.-China competition: AI, cyber operations, export controls, and digital sovereignty. While trade dominated headlines, deeper technological tensions remain unresolved.

Critical Questions by Lauryn Williams and Kuhu Badgi — May 20, 2026

Trade

AI and Tech

Defense

Experts

Scott Kennedy

Scott Kennedy

Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics
Bonny Lin

Bonny Lin

Director, China Power Project and Senior Adviser
Matthew P. Funaiole

Matthew P. Funaiole

Vice President, iDeas Lab, Andreas C. Dracopoulos Chair in Innovation and Senior Fellow, China Power Project
Ilaria Mazzocco

Ilaria Mazzocco

Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics
Brian Hart

Brian Hart

Deputy Director and Fellow, China Power Project
Victor Cha

Victor Cha

President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair
Seth G. Jones

Seth G. Jones

President, Defense and Security Department; Harold Brown Chair
Emily Harding

Emily Harding

Vice President, Defense and Security Department; Director, Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program
Kari Bingen

Kari A. Bingen

Director, Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Williams

Heather Williams

Director, Project on Nuclear Issues and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Matt Pearl

Matt Pearl

Director, Strategic Technologies Program
Lauryn Williams

Lauryn Williams

Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Strategic Technologies Program
Phil Luck

Philip Luck

Director, Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business
Caitlin Welsh

Caitlin Welsh

Director, Global Food and Water Security Program
Hugh Nolan Grant-Chapman

Hugh Grant-Chapman

Fellow, Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business
Douglas Comstock

Douglas Comstock

Fellow for Satellite Imagery Analysis and Open-Source Intelligence, iDeas Lab

All Trump-Xi 2026 Summits Content

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EST Rapid Roundup: Unpacking the Trump-Xi Summit Pt.2 - Tech Competition

Following the recent Trump-Xi summit, join CSIS's Navin Girishankar, Lauryn Williams, Aalok Mehta, and James Lewis to unpack what both sides expected, the implications of China's growing role as a global innovation hub, cybersecurity stakes, AI guardrails, and what China's coordination with Iran means for dialogue moving forward.

Event — May 20, 2026

EST Rapid Roundup: Unpacking the Trump-Xi Summit Pt.1 - Trade and Investment

Following the recent Trump-Xi summit, join CSIS's Navin Girishankar, Philip Luck, Kate Koren, Scott Kennedy, and Rick Rossow to break down what both sides expected, where tariffs and export controls stand today, and what frameworks could define the road ahead for U.S.-China trade and investment.

Event — May 20, 2026

Unpacking President Trump’s Visit to China | State of Play

President Trump’s historic state visit to China came amid heightened geopolitical tension surrounding Iran, and both sides entered the talks with sharply different priorities. Even so, the summit produced a framework for deeper cooperation and delivered several economic gains.

Commentary by Edgard D. Kagan and Bonny Lin — May 15, 2026

What did the Trump-Xi Summit Achieve?

The U.S.-China summit was expected to cover trade, investment, the war with Iran, and Taiwan. CSIS’s leading China experts assessed its outcomes in a special live episode of State of Play.

Transcript — May 15, 2026