China Confirms President Xi Jinping to Visit US This Week

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday that President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from Wednesday to Friday.

The trip marks Xi’s first state visit to Washington since 2015. Xi will hold in-depth exchanges of views with President Donald Trump on major issues concerning China-U.S. Relations, as well as world peace and development. This will be Xi’s second face-to-face meeting this year with Trump. The two leaders last met in Beijing in May. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun described the reciprocal visits by the two heads of state within a six-month period as “of historic, milestone significance.”

Guo added that China is willing to work with the U.S. to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, manage differences, enhance the well-being of both peoples, and promote world peace, stability, and prosperity. President Trump invited Xi to America in May during his own visit to Beijing. The visit comes as the world’s top two economies seek to stabilize a relationship tested by trade, technology, and national security disputes.

The US first lady, Melania Trump, is set to lead key cultural diplomacy events during the visit. Expected attendees from the Chinese delegation include Xi’s chief of staff, Cai Qi, who oversees administrative and security coordination. Cai is a Politburo Standing Committee member, first secretary of the ruling Communist Party’s secretariat, and director of the Central General Office.

Tang Fangyu, the newly appointed director of the Central Policy Research Office, is also likely to attend. Lu Luhua, a top personal secretary to Xi handling foreign affairs, is expected. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will lead Beijing’s diplomatic apparatus, likely joined by executive vice-minister of foreign affairs Ma Zhaoxu, who visited Washington in July to prepare for Xi’s visit. The visit will focus on trade talks, tariffs, and the Iran war. The one-year trade truce between the two nations is winding down.