Xi Concludes US Visit with Symbolic Stop at National Archives

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to depart the United States following a summit with President Donald Trump that included a final symbolic stop at the National Archives. The visit, described as a whirlwind two-and-a-half days, concluded with the leaders viewing "a variety of important records and documents significant to the American and Chinese relationship throughout history."

The White House hosted the leaders for morning tea before their departure to the National Archives. The archives house foundational American documents such as the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. This stop marked the culmination of Xi's visit to Washington.

Earlier in the day, Trump and Xi Jinping met at the White House for a state arrival ceremony, which featured military honors, a review of troops, and the playing of both national anthems. The summit also included several hours of bilateral talks between the U.S. and Chinese delegations, followed by private discussions between Trump and Xi in the Oval Office. During their time at the White House, they also toured the South Lawn, viewed Marine One, and visited the Presidential Walk of Fame outside the West Wing.

At the Presidential Walk of Fame, Trump reportedly installed an image of an autopen in place of a former president, a jab at past criticisms. Both leaders were observed laughing at the display, according to social media footage.

Throughout the day, protesters gathered outside the White House gates, voicing opposition to Chinese policies with chants such as "Free Hong Kong," "Xi Jinping, you’re not welcome," and "freedom for political prisoners." These demonstrations continued into the evening, coinciding with a state dinner held at the White House.

Discussions during the summit were expected to cover a range of topics, including potential tariff reductions on non-strategic goods, rare-earth exports, and efforts to curb fentanyl precursor chemical exports. Trump described the meeting as "great" but did not take questions from the press.

As part of the summit's outcomes, China announced it would send two giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta. Xi also extended an invitation for 100,000 young Americans to visit China for exchanges and study over the next five years.

The state dinner, which began at 8:00 p.m., included notable guests such as members of the Second Family, cabinet officials, and leaders from the technology and banking industries, including Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, and Tim Cook. The presence of AI leaders highlighted the summit's discussions on the ongoing race for artificial intelligence dominance between the U.S. and China.