The return of the “Big Two”: What Trump and Xi Jinping discussed in Washington

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s historic state visit to Washington on September 23–25 was held and marked the first visit by a Chinese president to the U.S. capital in more than a decade. Although the two sides have yet to announce details of any agreements or deals, the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi demonstrated that both superpowers are seeking to avoid direct confrontation despite the systematic escalation of global rivalry. RED CARPET AND A CEREMONIAL WELCOME The arrival ceremony at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, where Xi Jinping’s plane landed on the evening of September 23, was conducted with the…