China's Xi to pay state visit to US this week, with ‘world peace’ on agenda

China’s President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the US this week, Beijing confirmed on Monday, saying the Chinese and American leaders will exchange views on world peace amid Iran war.

“At the invitation of President of the United States of America Donald J. Trump, President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

This will be Xi's first state visit to the US since September 2015, when he visited at the invitation of then President Barack Obama.

Later, Xi met Trump during his first term in 2017.

He visited the US in 2023, and met then President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' summit, but not at the level of a state visit.

The upcoming visit between Wednesday and Friday comes after Trump paid a state visit to China in May.

“The exchange of visits by the two presidents within the span of a half a year will mark a milestone of historic significance,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.

President Xi “will have in depth exchange of views with President Trump on major issues concerning bilateral ties and world peace and development,” Guo said.

Xi has paid five visits to the US since becoming president in 2013.

“Head of state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance to China-US relations. China will work with the US to enrich the dimensions of the China-US constructive relationship of strategic stability, strengthen dialogue and cooperation and properly manage differences and further contribute to world peace, stability and prosperity,” said Guo.

Xi is likely to be received by Trump at tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, adjacent to Washington, according to US media reports.

The Chinese president is expected to be accompanied by top executives including from electric vehicle maker BYD and smart manufacturing giant Xiaomi.