BEIJING/WASHINGTON, D.C.: Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to visit Washington this week for a September 24 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, as the two leaders seek to extend a trade truce that has helped prevent a major new economic conflict between the world's two largest powers.

The visit comes four months after their previous meeting, at a time when Xi is arriving amid China's export growth and continued global trade expansion, while Trump is dealing with falling approval ratings at home and the economic impact of the war with Iran.

Analysts say the change in circumstances has lowered expectations of a major breakthrough at the summit. Xi is not seen as being under pressure to make major concessions, while Trump faces domestic political and economic challenges.

The main issue at the September 24 meeting is expected to be whether the two leaders agree to extend the trade truce reached last year. That agreement helped prevent a much wider trade conflict that could have caused a major shock to the global economy.

Other difficult issues, including Taiwan, are also expected to be discussed.

"Xi is not really looking for anything tangible. He wants to extend the gentleman's agreement with Trump so that China has time to fortify itself," said Jon Czin, a foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution and a former China director at the U.S. National Security Council.

U.S. officials have downplayed expectations for major agreements during the visit. However, officials from both countries have already held talks to prepare for the summit.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng led talks in New York on September 20. The discussions focused on possible agreements covering artificial intelligence safeguards and trade in less-sensitive products.

The limited expectations are a significant change from Trump's position when he returned to the White House in 2025. At that time, he promised to use tariffs to tackle the U.S. trade deficit with China, which he had described as seriously damaging the United States.

Since agreeing to the trade truce with Xi in October last year, however, Trump has faced several other foreign policy challenges. These have included the wars involving Iran and Ukraine as well as disagreements with European countries over issues including free speech.

China is also facing economic challenges, including weak domestic demand and a long-running property crisis. However, its export sector has continued to grow strongly.

Economists have increasingly described the renewed growth in Chinese exports as a second China Shock. China's global trade surplus is expected to exceed US$1 trillion for a second consecutive year.

A group of Chinese business leaders is also expected to travel with Xi. The delegation could include companies facing scrutiny from U.S. regulators but seeking greater access to the American market.

Scott Kennedy, an expert on U.S.-China economic relations at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the Trump administration had initially expected its pressure campaign to force China into making concessions.

"The Trump administration thought they could use massive unilateral pressure to force China to make concessions, and that did not occur," Kennedy said.

Taiwan is likely to remain another major issue at the summit. Beijing claims the democratically governed island as part of China, while the United States maintains close unofficial relations with Taiwan and provides it with military equipment.

Trump has said Xi repeatedly raised the Taiwan issue during their meeting in Beijing in May. According to Trump, Xi asked about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and whether Washington would continue to support the island.

Trump has described a planned $14 billion U.S. arms package for Taiwan as a possible negotiating tool with Beijing.

The war with Iran is another issue where Washington hopes China can play a role. U.S. officials see Xi as one of the few world leaders capable of pressuring Iran to help end the conflict.

However, Beijing has shown little interest in taking such action.