The Washington Arrival on September 23
Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive in Washington, D.C. on September 23, 2026, for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
He is bypassing the United Nations General Assembly in New York despite being just an hour’s flight away. According to the White House itinerary, Xi will touch down at Andrews Air Force Base. He will be personally received by Trump before a formal welcome ceremony and state dinner at the White House the following day.
Skipping New York for a Bilateral Summit
While world leaders converge on New York for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Xi’s decision to cross the Pacific and traverse the continental United States without stopping at the U.N. headquarters has drawn sharp diplomatic notice.
Leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region—including representatives from Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, and Bangladesh—have made the trip to New York for the U.N. event.
Vice President Han Zheng at the UNGA
Instead of attending personally, Xi is dispatching Vice President Han Zheng to represent China at the UNGA from September 24 to 26.
According to China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, Han will attend the High-Level Dialogue on the Fifth Anniversary of the Global Development Initiative on the sidelines of the general debate. He will also hold meetings with the U.N. secretary-general, the president of the 81st UNGA session, and various national leaders.
Contrasting Rhetoric With Reality
The omission is particularly stark given Beijing’s frequent rhetorical emphasis on multilateralism.
China’s global governance white paper, published in June 2026, explicitly labeled the United Nations as the “core” of the international order and the primary platform for advancing global governance, asserting that its leading position must remain “rock solid.” Guo reiterated that stance during a press briefing, calling the UNGA general debate a vital opportunity for countries to build political consensus and coordinate multilateral actions.
A Rare U.N. Rostrum Appearance
Xi’s physical absence from the U.N. rostrum has become the norm rather than the exception.
Since assuming power in late 2012, Xi has attended the UN General Assembly in person only once, during the U.N.’s 70th anniversary in 2015. That trip also included a state visit and a summit with then-U.S. President Barack Obama, mirroring the timing of his current U.S. itinerary. Apart from a 2021 virtual address in which he unveiled the Global Development Initiative, Xi has not spoken before the UNGA since. He notably skipped the milestone 80th session of the General Assembly last year, passing over a round-number anniversary that Beijing typically treats as an occasion for high-level foreign travel and bilateral upgrades.
State Dinner and National Archives Tour
Following their meetings and a subsequent tea hosted by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, the two leaders are scheduled to visit the National Archives on September 25.
They will view historical records tied to U.S.-China relations before the Chinese delegation departs for home.
