As U.S. President Donald Trump hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, both leaders are aiming for trade stability and cooperation on artificial intelligence. The summit comes at a fragile time for U.S.-China relations, with looming concerns over tariffs, AI competition, and geopolitical tensions regarding Iran. While there are hopes for an AI safety hotline to address national security threats, skepticism remains about significant breakthroughs on critical issues such as trade and Taiwan. Experts anticipate that discussions will largely reflect on a backdrop of previous commitments and unresolved tensions. Both sides express cautious optimism about the potential for dialogue and cooperation but recognize the challenges ahead.