US President Donald Trump is set to conclude Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day state visit to the United States on Friday with a tour of the US National Archives in Washington, highlighting the historical ties between the two countries.
The visit follows a high-profile White House summit on Thursday that focused on trade, artificial intelligence and broader US-China relations. Despite the extensive diplomatic ceremony surrounding Xi’s visit, Reuters reported that the meeting produced no major breakthrough between the world’s two largest economies.
Archives Visit to Highlight Shared History
Trump and Xi are expected to view some of the United States’ most important historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution and Bill of Rights. They will also see records highlighting the history of relations and cultural exchanges between China and the United States.
The National Archives visit is intended to provide a symbolic conclusion to Xi’s state visit, which is the Chinese leader’s first trip to Washington in several years.
Trade Truce Extended
The summit also produced limited progress on economic issues. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington and Beijing had agreed to extend their existing trade truce for two months, giving negotiators additional time to work on outstanding economic issues.
Trump also highlighted what he described as increased access to the Chinese market for American farmers and ranchers. Both leaders identified artificial intelligence as an area where the two countries could cooperate.
However, major disagreements remain, including over Taiwan, technology restrictions, tariffs, rare-earth supplies and broader strategic competition. China continues to press Washington over US arms sales to Taiwan, which Beijing considers a core issue in its relations with the United States.
Symbolism Amid Continuing Tensions
The Archives tour gives the summit a historical and diplomatic ending, but the unresolved issues between Washington and Beijing remain significant. The two governments are expected to continue negotiations after Xi leaves the United States.
Xi’s visit, which runs from September 23 to 25, 2026, represents an effort by both sides to maintain high-level engagement while managing persistent differences over trade, technology, Taiwan and international affairs.
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