Xi Jinping to arrive Sept 23 for Trump summit, skip UN General Assembly

September 23, 2026 at 08:08 PM1 min

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Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington on September 23 for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Vice President Han Zheng will represent China at the UN General Assembly in New York from September 24 to 26. Xi's itinerary omits the UNGA despite China's stated emphasis on the United Nations.

Key Facts

Xi Jinping is scheduled to land at Andrews Air Force Base on September 23 and be received by President Trump.
The White House itinerary includes a formal welcome ceremony and summit on September 24, followed by a state dinner.
Vice President Han Zheng will attend the UN General Assembly in New York from September 24 to 26.
China's June 2026 white paper on global governance called the United Nations the 'core' of the international order.

Summit Itinerary

Xi Jinping is due to arrive at Andrews Air Force Base on September 23, where President Trump will personally receive him. A formal welcome ceremony and the summit are scheduled for September 24, followed by a state dinner. On September 25, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will host Xi and his wife for tea, and both couples will visit the National Archives. Xi and his delegation will then fly home, with no stop in New York for the UN General Assembly.

UN Representation

Vice President Han Zheng will represent China at the UNGA from September 24 to 26. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Han will attend the High-Level Dialogue on the Fifth Anniversary of the Global Development Initiative. Han is also scheduled to meet with the UN secretary-general, the president of the 81st UNGA session, and leaders of relevant countries. Xi's absence from the UNGA contrasts with China's June 2026 white paper, which called the UN the 'primary platform for practicing multilateralism'.