Trump-Xi 2026 Summits

President Trump and President Xi Jinping have met twice this year — first in Beijing this May, then at the White House in September. Here, CSIS experts offer analysis on the range of issues shaping the U.S.-China relationship around the summits. Follow this page for ongoing analysis.

September 2026 Summit

Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The State of AI Global Governance and Its Implications for the U.S.-China Summit

Report by Christopher Collins and Aalok Mehta — September 21, 2026

Xi Jinping’s Return to Washington: A State Visit to Build Stability

Critical Questions by Edgard D. Kagan — September 22, 2026

The U.S.-China Summit: Too Big and Too Small to Fail

Commentary by Scott Kennedy — September 18, 2026

Expect A More Dangerous Asia If Maritime Issues Don’t Make the Trump-Xi Agenda

Commentary by Harrison Prétat — September 15, 2026

The State of U.S.-China Relations Ahead of the Trump-Xi Summit: A Conversation with Demetri Sevastopulo and Xiangwei Wang

Podcast Episode by Bonny Lin

ChinaPower Podcast
China’s View of the Upcoming Trump-Xi Summit: A Conversation with Da Wei

Podcast Episode by Bonny Lin

China Field Notes Podcast
China’s Changing Commercial Landscape on the Eve of the Summit: A Conversation with Eric Zheng

Podcast Episode by Scott Kennedy

CSIS Pekingology
Ambassador Dan Kritenbrink on US-China Summits and Strategy

Podcast Episode by Henrietta Levin

Photo: CSIS

Photo: CSIS
What To Expect From the Xi-Trump Summit | China Pulse

With a Trump-Xi summit expected on September 24th, Trustee Chair Scott Kennedy and Senior Fellow and Deputy Director Ilaria Mazzocco discuss potential outcomes of the meeting, including export controls on rare earths and why AI safeguards could take center stage in the talks.

Hosted by Chinese Business and Economics — September 14, 2026

Photo: CSIS

Photo: CSIS
China Continues to Exploit Rare Earth Chokepoints

For years, China has used rare earth export restrictions as a tool of geopolitical leverage. What has been the actual impact of these measures and how has the United States responded?

Hosted by Critical Minerals Security Program — September 11, 2026

Photo: CSIS

Photo: CSIS
What Did Trump and Xi Agree to at the White House? | State of Play

The summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping is expected to cover trade, investment, AI, the war with Iran, and Taiwan. CSIS’s leading China experts will provide a rapid assessment of its outcomes in a live episode of State of Play.

Hosted by Geopolitics and Foreign Policy — September 25, 2026

Satellite imagery of Chinese military base in Djibouti

Imagery: Copyright © 2026 by Planet
Extended Range: China Upgrades Its Military Base in Djibouti

China’s military has added two new communications facilities at its overseas base in Djibouti, strengthening its ability to operate far from home and likely collect intelligence across the Middle East and Africa.

Digital Feature by Matthew P. Funaiole, Brian Hart, Aidan Powers-Riggs, and Douglas Comstock — September 17, 2026

Xi Jinping's Visit to Washington, Explained

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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China's Power: Up for Debate 2026

Join in-person or online for one of CSIS's premier annual China conferences. Hear discussions and debates on core issues underpinning China's power and U.S.-China relations. 

Event — October 28, 2026

Xi Jinping’s Return to Washington: A State Visit to Build Stability

Xi’s visit to Washington is likely to be heavy on optics and symbolism but light on substantive progress, highlighting both leaders’ conviction that each is the only one who can manage the other and that regular meetings are necessary to stabilize the bilateral relationship.

Critical Questions by Edgard D. Kagan — September 22, 2026

The Trade Guys

The Trump-Xi Summit and All Things China with Scott Kennedy

On this episode, Bill and Scott talk with Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at CSIS

Podcast Episode by Scott Miller, William Alan Reinsch, and Scott Kennedy — September 21, 2026

CSIS The Trade Guys