Iran, AI and trade

The lavish visit — the third between Xi and Trump since the US leader returned to power — will include a formal welcome and another flyover, talks in the Oval Office and a state banquet at the White House on Thursday.

It will wrap up on Friday morning when the two presidential couples have tea at the White House and then visit the National Archives, home to the US Declaration of Independence.

Expectations of any breakthroughs are low. Analysts say the main aim of the pageantry is to maintain a fragile calm between the superpower rivals.

The Iran war will be on the agenda, Trump confirmed Wednesday, despite having earlier played down reports that Beijing was supplying Tehran with intelligence as the conflict drags on.

"I'll be talking about that and many other subjects — but it's all coming along well, including that," Trump said when an AFP reporter asked if he would bring up Iran.

On the simmering trade war sparked by Trump's sweeping tariffs last year, US Treasury Scott Bessent announced Wednesday after intensive pre-summit talks that there had been an extension of a truce.

The "economic detente" will now extend beyond its November 10 deadline to January 10, Bessent said.

But hopes of business deals have been dimmed by the fact that there are no Chinese CEOs in Xi's delegation, two sources told AFP.

In contrast, top US tech bosses including the leaders of major AI companies are set to attend Thursday's banquet.