Xi leaves Washington after summit with trade truce extension and no major breakthroughs
Xi Jinping has left Washington after a three-day state visit that extended the US-China trade truce to January but produced no major deal on AI, Taiwan or Iran.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Xi Jinping has left Washington after a three-day state visit that was long on ceremony but short on concrete deals. It was his first trip to the United States in more than a decade and his first White House state visit. President Trump greeted him personally at Joint Base Andrews, an honour rarely given to foreign leaders. There was a red carpet, a military honour guard and a flypast by B-1 bombers. Xi was accompanied by his wife, Peng Liyuan. The two leaders held talks at the White House, watched a military review in the Rose Garden, had tea in the Red Room and attended a state dinner. They also visited the National Archives.
Trump said the two countries had made 'tremendous strides' and that he and Xi had forged a 'truly great friendship'. Xi said the relationship would be one of 'constructive strategic stability' based on respect, fairness and reciprocity. He also said the two countries should 'coexist in peace' and that they would both gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Trump said America and China were both happy with the visit and that it had been 'very, very productive'. The warm words were not matched by major agreements.
Trade produced the only concrete announcement. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the bilateral trade truce, which had been due to expire in November, would be extended to 10 January. The truce had scaled back the worst tariffs from the trade war. The extension was shorter than China had wanted. Analysts said it was the minimum expected from the summit. Trump hinted there could be good news for US farmers, but no detailed deal on agriculture, aircraft or rare earths was announced. China wants more access to high-end US chips, while the US wants China to keep supplying rare earths. Both sides have an interest in avoiding a return to full trade war, but structural disputes remain.
AI dominated the agenda. Trump has said he wants to accelerate AI development and has rejected calls for strict guardrails. He has taken to calling it SI, or super intelligence. Xi said AI must remain under human control and serve the wellbeing of people. He called for global governance and cooperation. The two sides discussed a possible notification mechanism or hotline to warn each other about AI risks to national security, but no firm agreement was confirmed. The summit came as OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei told the UN Security Council that AI could pose a risk to humanity and needed global cooperation. Tech bosses including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, Jensen Huang and Mark Zuckerberg attended the state dinner.
China used the visit to showcase its AI ambitions. In Inner Mongolia, dozens of data centres are being built on former farmland, with more than 100 in one area. China aims to run 80% of its data centres on renewable energy by 2030. It is also promoting open-source AI models to developing countries. Some local people said they saw few benefits and feared losing land, though there was little organised opposition. Beijing presents AI as a source of national pride and a way to compete with the US.
Taiwan was another major issue. Xi urged the US to oppose Taiwan independence and to handle arms sales prudently. China wants Washington to delay or cancel a $14bn arms package to Taiwan. Trump has not announced a change in US policy. On Iran, the US wants China to use its leverage over Tehran, its biggest oil buyer. US officials have accused China of providing intelligence to Iran that put American troops at risk. China's readout played down the issue. The war in Ukraine and China's support for Russia also remain points of friction.
The summit was overshadowed by a media access row. Trump had banned CNN, MS Now and Politico from the White House. A federal judge ordered their access restored. Television networks boycotted pooled coverage in solidarity, so there was little video of the early ceremonial events. The state dinner was not shown on US network TV but was broadcast on Chinese state TV. The White House briefly appeared to defy the court order before allowing the outlets back. Protesters outside the Chinese embassy and the National Archives highlighted human rights abuses.
Trump and Xi agreed to meet twice more this year, at APEC in Shenzhen in November and the G20 in Miami in December. Xi also announced two pandas for Atlanta Zoo and said China would welcome 100,000 American students over five years. Analysts said the main achievement was stability and the symbolism of treating China as an equal. Critics said Trump was too deferential to an authoritarian leader and had gained little in return. The trade truce extension and the promise of further talks leave the biggest disputes unresolved.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | BBC Two | Channel 4 | GB News | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The US Treasury Secretary announced that the US-China bilateral trade truce was extended to January. | · | · | ||||||
| Xi Jinping is due to arrive in the United States, and President Trump is expected to host him at the White House on Thursday. | · | · | ||||||
| A US president met a foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews for the first time since the 1960s. | · | · | · | |||||
| A media ban restricted official video footage from the White House. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| The United States is seeking a notification system to identify where the two superpowers may come into contact on AI, especially on national security. | · | · | · | · | · | |||
| Xi's trip was his first visit to the US in more than a decade. | · | · | · | · | · | |||
| AI discussions between the two sides were reported as lacking solid details and possibly ending only in agreement to disagree. | · | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| Dozens of data centres are under construction in Inner Mongolia, including more than 100 in a single area. | · | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| OpenAI and Anthropic executives told the UN Security Council that AI could pose a risk to humanity and required global cooperation. | · | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| Xi said artificial intelligence must remain under human control. | · | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| Xi was expected to push to delay Taiwan arms sales. | · | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| A judge temporarily blocked Trump's media ban. | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC NEWS treated the visit as a major diplomatic set piece, pairing live coverage of Xi's arrival and White House events with analysis of trade, AI and Taiwan. Its reporting stressed the rare personal welcome from Trump, the short extension of the trade truce and the risk that China now holds more leverage through rare earths and supply chains. It also gave space to the AI data centre build-out in Inner Mongolia and to scepticism that the summit would produce anything beyond stability.
- “President Trump has given China's President Xi a rare Personal welcome at the airport at the beginning of a three-day state visit to Washington”
- “The US Treasury Secretary announced that a bilateral trade truce which to first sweeping u.s Tariffs has been extended till January”
- “I don't think any analysts here think any other major Breakthrough is going to be achieved”
BBC ONE West leaned on Laura Bicker's rare access to AI data centres in Inner Mongolia and Sarah Smith's reporting from the White House. Its coverage highlighted the scale of China's AI build-out, the pageantry of the state visit and the media ban that limited US television coverage. It framed the summit as heavy on symbolism and light on substance, with the trade truce extension the only clear result.
- “Donald Trump's gone to the airport to meet him himself and that's not something he's ever done with any other leader before”
- “The only significant announcement that we've had as a result of this meeting is a short two-month extension to a trade war truce”
- “Xi Jinping will be delighted with the visuals that show him being treated as an honoured guest and geopolitical equal.”
ITV1 focused on the AI arms race, using Chinese robotaxis and tech firms to show how Beijing is pushing the technology into everyday life. Its reporting stressed that the US and China are fierce competitors and that no meaningful agreement on AI, Taiwan or trade was announced. It also gave prominence to the media ban and the legal fight that disrupted US television coverage of the summit.
- “Mr. Trump believes the United States is locked in a fight with China for AI supremacy”
- “While America's tech giants are warning about the extinction of humans and slowing down AI development in China They are ramping it up”
- “I think the guidance is we should expect no breakthrough”
BBC TWO's Newsnight put the summit in a wider strategic frame, bringing in experts to discuss what each leader wanted and how far the US and China could cooperate on AI. It highlighted warnings from OpenAI and Anthropic to the UN Security Council and examined the possible AI hotline. The tone was analytical and sceptical about any grand bargain.
- “the bosses of two of America's leading AI companies, Anthropic, Dario Amodei, and OpenAI's Sam Altman, have told the UN Security Council that AI could be a risk to humanity as a whole”
- “Treasury Secretary Bessent has said that they've agreed to start a more formal, ongoing dialogue with China on AI.”
- “I think both sides do want to continue the truce because America has discovered that actually being cut off from rare earth exports from China or imports from America and other forms of magnets and things like that is very painful.”
GB News was the most sceptical and critical of the channels, framing China as untrustworthy and the summit as a risk. It highlighted the Les Miserables song at the state dinner as a deliberate slight, questioned any AI deal and argued that China would not honour safeguards. It also gave space to concerns about Taiwan, Iran and human rights.
- “it became the first time a foreign leader had been greeted at the military facility since 1962”
- “Xi took time to stress that AI should remain under human control”
- “they haven't really agreed much on substantial outcome on all of the topics like Iran, Taiwan”
Sky News combined rolling live coverage with analysis of the optics and the media access row. It stressed the unprecedented airport welcome, the trade truce extension and the lack of any major breakthrough. Its correspondents repeatedly questioned whether the summit was more about pageantry than policy, while noting that stability itself was a win for both sides.
- “Donald Trump. Personally welcomed the Chinese delegation when they landed at Joint Base Andrews”
- “The Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announcing that the trade agreement, a fragile truce, has been extended. It had been due to run out in November, extended now to the 10th of January.”
- “the three-day summit in Washington between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping Has ended with no major breakthroughs the two leaders have however confirmed that they'll meet twice again this year”
Channel 4 framed the visit as a contest over global power and America's standing, asking whether the US is declining and China is rising. It highlighted the irony of a Chinese communist leader visiting the National Archives while Trump blocked US media outlets. Its coverage was critical of the pomp and the lack of substance, and gave voice to human rights protesters.
- “When you get to the pinnacle of raw power on this earth, there are only two people in the room.”
- “The summit began with both sides agreeing to extend a trade truce for another two months.”
- “Today the Chinese president brought the promise of pandas, two pandas for Atlanta Zoo”
5 News gave a concise round-up of the visit, focusing on the AI arms race and the lack of progress on major issues. It noted the pomp and pageantry, the tech bosses at the state dinner and the media ban that limited coverage. Its tone was straightforward and summary-driven.
- “Today, Donald Trump welcomed the President of China for his first trip to the US in more than a decade.”
- “the development of AI high on the agenda”
- “There was no sign of progress on any major issues, though.”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 05:05 BST
Han Li, China managing director for the Asia Group
“Let's now go live to Shanghai Han Li is the China managing director for the Asia Group. Welcome to”
BBC News · Thu 24 Sept - 12:08 BST
Cindy Wu, Times columnist and author of Chinese Whispers on Substack
“Well, not really necessarily actually,”
BBC News Now · Thu 24 Sept - 15:14 BST
Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian president
“Sean, we're gonna have to wrap it there because Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian”
Verified Live · Thu 24 Sept - 18:40 BST
Bilal Fawaz, professional athlete a boxer
“I am Bilal Fawaz I am a professional athlete a boxer”
The World Today with Maryam... · Thu 24 Sept - 18:52 BST
Katherine Tai, former US Trade Representative Ambassador
“Ambassador Katherine Tai. Thank you very much for joining us here on”
The World Today with Maryam... · Thu 24 Sept - 01:03 BST
Donald Trump, President Trump
“The decisions we make in these areas today can promote peace and prosperity for decades and decades to come.”
BBC News · Fri 25 Sept - 01:03 BST
- 01:06 BST
John Moeller, former White House head chef, author of Dining at the White House and founder of State of Affairs Catering
“Well, we usually get about three, maybe four months notice.”
BBC News · Fri 25 Sept - 12:04 BST
Ja Ian Chong, US-China relations expert, associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore
“let's bring in the US-China relations expert Ja Ian Chong”
BBC News Now · Fri 25 Sept - 15:23 BST
James King, Senior Research Fellow on China at Chatham House
“With me here in the studio is James King, Senior Research Fellow on China at Chatham House.”
Verified Live · Fri 25 Sept - 21:10 BST
Donald Trump, President Trump
“America is very happy about this visit and I'm sure China is very happy also.”
The Context · Fri 25 Sept - 21:10 BST
Xi Jinping, Chinese President
“The relationship will be a constructive one of strategic stability on the basis of respect, fairness and reciprocity.”
The Context · Fri 25 Sept - 21:19 BST
Mary Lovely, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute
“Yes, many pundits leading up to this said that the the message would be that the meeting would be the message.”
The Context · Fri 25 Sept - 00:14 BST
- 00:14 BST
- 05:12 BST
- 05:12 BST
Xi Jinping, President
“The relationship will be a constructive one of strategic stability”
BBC News · Sat 26 Sept
- 18:01 BST
Donald Trump, President Trump
“Donald Trump has welcomed the president of China to the White House for what is Xi Jinping's first visit to Washington in more than a”
BBC News · Thu 24 Sept - 18:04 BST
Xi Jinping, president of China
“Xi Jinping said the respect he and mr. Trump have for each other allow for cooperation and dialogue”
BBC News · Thu 24 Sept - 22:04 BST
Donald Trump, US President
“The decisions we make in these areas today can promote peace and prosperity”
BBC News and Weather · Thu 24 Sept - 22:04 BST
Xi Jinping, Chinese president
“We should coexist in peace as I have said many times China and the United States as two major countries”
BBC News and Weather · Thu 24 Sept - 18:13 BST
Donald Trump, President
“America is very happy about this visit and I'm sure China is very happy also”
BBC News · Fri 25 Sept - 18:14 BST
Xi Jinping, China's leader
“The relationship will be a constructive one of strategic stability on the basis of respect fairness and reciprocity”
BBC News · Fri 25 Sept - 22:11 BST
Donald Trump, President
“Donald Trump says the US and China have made progress during President Xi's lavish”
BBC News and Weather · Fri 25 Sept - 22:12 BST
Xi Jinping, President
“Xi Jinping said he and Donald Trump are charting a great shift in US-China relations.”
BBC News and Weather · Fri 25 Sept
- 22:33 BST
Gillian Tett, Financial Times columnist and provost of King's College, Cambridge
“Gillian Tett”
Newsnight, followed by Weather · Wed 23 Sept - 22:33 BST
Matt Sheehan, world leading expert on China's use of AI, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
“Matt Sheehan”
Newsnight, followed by Weather · Wed 23 Sept - 22:37 BST
Victor Gao, Vice President of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization, Professor
“Victor Gao”
Newsnight, followed by Weather · Wed 23 Sept - 22:44 BST
Johnny Mercer, Former Conservative Defence Minister
“Johnny Mercer”
Newsnight, followed by Weather · Wed 23 Sept - 22:44 BST
Jonathan Ashworth, former Shadow Cabinet Minister
“Jonathan Ashworth”
Newsnight, followed by Weather · Wed 23 Sept
- 19:04 BST
Xi Jinping, Chinese president
“focused on how to build healthy competition, saying, let's race, not wrestle.”
Channel 4 News · Thu 24 Sept - 19:09 BST
Victor Gao, vice president of the Center for China and Globalization in Beijing
“Victor Gao, who is vice president of the Center for China and Globalization in Beijing.”
Channel 4 News · Thu 24 Sept - 19:09 BST
Henrietta Levin, held senior roles in the State Department and the White House, specializing in China
“And we're going to have Henrietta Levin in a minute”
Channel 4 News · Thu 24 Sept - 19:33 BST
Donald Trump, President
“Well thank you very much everybody. We've had a tremendous visit from two spectacular people and we've really enjoyed it and I think we've made tremendous strides.”
Channel 4 News · Fri 25 Sept - 19:36 BST
Mark Levin, Republican commentator
“One very high profile Republican commentator, Mark Levin, started his podcast the other day saying, let me just clarify one thing. Communist China are our enemy.”
Channel 4 News · Fri 25 Sept - 19:37 BST
Richard Haass, former American diplomat and national security official
“Joining me now to discuss all this and the president's visit here is the former American diplomat and national security official, Richard Haass”
Channel 4 News · Fri 25 Sept - 19:37 BST
Dennis Wilder, former China director at the White House National Security Council
“and Dennis Wilder, a former China director at the White House National Security Council, who is now a senior fellow for the Initiative for US-China Dialogue on Global Issues.”
Channel 4 News · Fri 25 Sept
- 22:22 BST
Leo Wang, worked in California's Silicon Valley
“Leo Wang worked in California's Silicon Valley”
ITV News at Ten · Wed 23 Sept - 22:23 BST
Mark Zeng, former computer programmer at one of China's top AI startups
“Mark Zeng believes instead of limiting the technology. We should police the people who use it”
ITV News at Ten · Wed 23 Sept - 22:27 BST
Earl Spencer, Earl
“It was Earl Spencer's turn in the back and forth over his book to hit back at Piers Morgan who had pointed out an error”
ITV News at Ten · Wed 23 Sept - 18:45 BST
Donald Trump, President Trump
“I'm not going to stifle growth of something that will be bigger than the Industrial Revolution.”
ITV Evening News · Thu 24 Sept - 22:04 BST
Xi Jinping, President
“We have both the capability and responsibility”
ITV News at Ten · Thu 24 Sept - 18:53 BST
Donald Trump, President
“We've had a tremendous visit from two spectacular people.”
ITV Evening News · Fri 25 Sept - 18:54 BST
Xi Jinping, China's President
“The President and I are like two people that's charting the course for the great”
ITV Evening News · Fri 25 Sept - 22:25 BST
Donald Trump, President
“We've had a tremendous visit from two spectacular people.”
ITV News at Ten · Fri 25 Sept - 22:26 BST
- 22:04 BST
Xi Jinping, China's President
“We should co-exist in peace.”
The Wrap With Anna Botting · Thu 24 Sept - 06:03 BST
Donald Trump, US president
“We will also discuss pressing issues concerning security technology and super intelligence”
Mornings with Jones and Melbourne · Fri 25 Sept - 06:03 BST
Xi Jinping, Chinese president
“The decisions we make in these areas today can promote peace and prosperity”
Mornings with Jones and Melbourne · Fri 25 Sept - 16:15 BST
Donald Trump, President
“we've had a tremendous visit from two spectacular people”
Sky News Today · Fri 25 Sept - 16:17 BST
President Xi, President
“the president and I are like two people that's charting the course”
Sky News Today · Fri 25 Sept - 06:23 BST
Donald Trump, US President
“We've really enjoyed it. We've made great strides”
Mornings with Jones and Melbourne · Sat 26 Sept - 06:23 BST
Xi Jinping, president Xi
“The relationship will be a constructive one of strategic stability on the basis of respect”
Mornings with Jones and Melbourne · Sat 26 Sept - 10:19 BST
Professor Steve Tsang, director of SOAS China Institute, also author of a book on China's premier Xi Jinping
“Well, the optics certainly was what matters to both leaders,”
Sky News Today with Sam Washington · Sat 26 Sept
- 20:36 BST
Chung Ching-Kwong, senior analyst of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance for China
“I'd say in terms of diplomatic protocol, this is unprecedented.”
New: The Saturday Five Extra · Sat 26 Sept
- 17:05 BST
Donald Trump, President of the United States
“Today, Donald Trump welcomed the President of China”
5 News with Dan Walker · Thu 24 Sept
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.