Logistical Gaps and Unresolved Issues Cast Uncertainty Over Upcoming US-China Summit
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With a week left before President Trump and President Xi meet, U.S. officials say key details such as briefing materials, delegation size and business participation remain unsettled, while both sides express cautious optimism.
Washington – A high-level meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled for next week, but officials say several logistical elements are still unresolved. Inter-agency talks on briefing documents and talking points for the president have not been completed, and uncertainty over the number of seats allocated to the Chinese delegation at the state dinner is delaying final decisions on which Chinese tech executives might accompany Xi.
The information comes from interviews with ten current and former U.S. officials and three individuals involved in the planning, all of whom spoke on background. The White House declined to comment. Former assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security Randall Shriver said the Chinese are “very enthusiastic” about the summit, viewing it as a way to manage relations with the United States.
Chinese officials, including senior foreign-ministry representatives, have reportedly voiced concerns about last-minute agenda and protocol decisions, emphasizing the importance of details such as seating arrangements, stage positioning and speaking time. Historian Julian Gewirtz noted that Beijing seeks certainty on these ceremonial aspects.
U.S. planners acknowledge that preparation has lagged behind previous state visits, partly due to competing priorities across agencies. The administration intends to offer “perfect reciprocity,” meaning Xi will receive access comparable to what Trump received in Beijing earlier this year. Consequently, an early proposal for Xi to speak at a Washington university was dropped after it was determined that Trump had not been asked to speak at a Chinese university during his May visit.
Business participation remains unclear. While the White House has invited Chinese entrepreneurs and executives, Beijing has not finalized a list of attendees, citing the unresolved seating allocation and lack of clarity on meeting opportunities for any business leaders who might travel. The state dinner is expected to accommodate about 100 guests, whereas the Chinese side had requested more than half of the seats to host CEOs.
Other agenda items include the impending expiration on November 10 of a moratorium on Chinese export controls for rare-earth minerals and a one-year extension of U.S. controls on advanced semiconductor chips. Both sides accuse each other of not fully honoring previous agreements, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Bessant has warned that continued restrictions could prompt a U.S. response.
Negotiations over a pledged purchase of additional Boeing aircraft by China have stalled, with the United States hesitant to supply spare parts for both Boeing models and China’s domestically produced C919 jet. Recent FCC actions restricting imports of certain Chinese technology products have also been cited by Beijing as disruptive to strategic stability, though a senior U.S. official described the measures as part of a broader industrial policy.
Despite the logistical and policy challenges, Chinese diplomats have expressed optimism that the summit will reinforce a “constructive relationship” and hope it will lead to President Trump’s participation in the upcoming APEC meeting in Shenzhen.
"I think that's one of the reasons why they want to sustain diplomacy with Trump is they're pretty happy with the direction things are going," said Jacob Stokes, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.
"The two sides have recently followed the direction set by the two heads of state, taken practical steps to strengthen communication and dialogue, advanced a positive agenda and achieved notable results," said Liu Haixing, a senior Communist Party official.