Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are meeting in Washington for talks which could shape relations between the world’s two largest economies. Their third face-to-face meeting within a year comes amid continuing tensions over trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and the US-Israel war with Iran. The countries have extended their current trade truce until January, giving negotiators additional time to pursue a broader agreement after tariffs and restrictions disrupted bilateral commerce. Washington may also explore whether Beijing can use its relationship with Tehran to encourage diplomatic progress, while China is expected to raise concerns over US arms sales to Taiwan. Artificial intelligence will feature prominently, with both countries competing for technological leadership while considering mechanisms to communicate about serious AI-related security incidents. Trump is also expected to raise the cases of people imprisoned in China. Despite significant disagreements, both governments have recently sought greater stability, making the summit an important test of whether cooperation can prevent economic, technological and military rivalry from escalating into deeper confrontation.