Xi at White House

A mother of summits in the White House could act as a precursor for a thaw on global affairs. President Xi Jinping and his host Doanld Trump have an immense responsibility to chart out a roadmap for congeniality not only in the military context, but also in the realms of trade and technology. Xi's first visit to Washington in a decade is taking place at a time when the Middle East is on the edge, and the ensuing controversy over AI supremacy has pitched the two great powers in nexus of controversy. Likewise, the trade and tariffs duel are literally keeping them in a nervous zone, implying a deeper impact on international economics.

The three-day visit, however, is an opportunity to make a new start and do away with their perplexed positions. China has already called for a thaw in the Strait of Hormuz by trying to persuade Iran to get back from the brink. That influence is of immense value to Washington as its military might is on a retreat in the region, and the sole superpower has not been able to cow down a state under sanctions for the last four decades. Likewise, Xi is expected to do some plain-talking on Taiwan, exaggerated US tariffs on its products, and the AI row. To what extent a deal is brokered is hard to guess. It is a given that Xi will be talking to Trump from a position of strength as its trade and diplomatic muscles are well-established over 120 nation-states.

Xi's landmark welcome says it all. A military flyover as the guest is received at the Oval Office, combined with a rare tarmac greeting at Joint Base Andrews, marks a new high in their once-checkered bilateral relationship. Having weathered Trump's trade tariffs, China is well-placed to negotiate from a position of strength - securing a new deal regarding technological supremacy while extending the trade truce on favorable terms. At the very least, the desired breakthrough is to agree on a new modus operandi for cooperation and help bring the volatile conflict in the Middle East to an end.