Trump to Host Xi Jinping at US National Archives as China President Concludes Washington Visit

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is scheduled to accompany Chinese President Xi Jinping to the National Archives on Friday, as Xi concludes a three-day state visit to Washington.

During the visit, Xi is expected to view some of the United States’ most significant historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The visit comes as the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its founding.

Trump said he wanted to show Xi historical artifacts reflecting the relationship between the United States and China. The National Archives is also hosting a special exhibition highlighting major developments in American history.

The National Archives visit follows a state dinner hosted by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on Thursday. Melania Trump and Peng separately visited the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art.

Trump and Xi also held a 90-minute meeting behind closed doors on Thursday. According to the Chinese government’s readout, the discussions covered a number of international issues, including the Middle East, Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula. The White House had not released its own account of the meeting at the time of the AP report.

The Washington visit has focused on maintaining engagement between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies, although the two sides did not announce major breakthroughs on issues including trade and artificial intelligence during the visit.