US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to visit the US National Archives on Friday, a day after their White House summit, where they discussed trade, artificial intelligence and broader bilateral relations.
Trump said the two leaders would view historic documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as well as artefacts reflecting the longstanding relationship between the United States and China.
Thursday’s state summit produced no major breakthrough, although Trump highlighted progress under a bilateral trade mechanism, including increased market access for US farmers and ranchers. The two leaders also identified artificial intelligence as an area for cooperation.
The visit to the National Archives is expected to highlight the historical ties between Washington and Beijing. Analysts said Xi could be interested in records relating to the United States’ decision to recognise communist China rather than Taiwan in 1979.
Taiwan remained a key issue during the summit, with Xi urging Trump to handle the matter with caution and reiterating Beijing’s opposition to Taiwan’s independence.
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China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, while the United States maintains unofficial relations with Taipei and is required under US law to provide it with the means to defend itself.
Trump’s administration approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, while a further package worth about $14 billion has been held in abeyance.
US Senate Democrats criticised the summit, saying Trump had failed to secure meaningful concessions from Beijing on trade, security, artificial intelligence and human rights. They also called for the immediate delivery of approved military aid and arms sales to Taiwan.
