Xi Visits National Archives with Trump to Conclude U.S. Trip
The Chinese president will see foundational U.S. democracy documents on the final day of a state visit that critics say lacked significant breakthroughs.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the National Archives on Friday, the final day of his three-day state visit to Washington. President Donald Trump plans to show Xi the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, foundational documents of American democracy.
The visit concludes a trip that has been described as heavy on ceremony but light on substantive policy achievements. No major breakthroughs were announced on key issues such as trade or the regulation of artificial intelligence.
Trump stated on Thursday that he wanted to share "some of the greatest treasures of that proud history" with Xi, as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary. The National Archives is hosting a special exhibit titled "The American Story" marking the occasion, which includes depictions of both U.S. achievements and its difficult historical moments.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump had shown Xi a copy of the Declaration of Independence that hangs in the Oval Office. Trump also expressed a desire to showcase artifacts related to the historical relationship between the two nations, noting that "our ancestors reached across the ocean centuries ago to trade, to learn, and to build a better world."
The itinerary for Friday's activities includes tea at the White House with Trump and first lady Melania Trump, and their Chinese counterparts, Xi and Peng Liyuan. The previous evening, the Trumps hosted a state dinner attended by figures from the technology industry. On Thursday, Trump also provided Xi with a personal tour of the White House, including a gallery of presidential portraits and a newly installed granite helipad.
Meanwhile, Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan visited the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art. The leaders also held a private meeting for approximately 90 minutes on Thursday. According to China's official readout, discussions covered topics including the Middle East, Ukraine, and the Korean Peninsula. The White House has not yet released details of these private talks.