Table of Contents
Top Headlines
- Xi Jinping–Donald Trump meeting: Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet in Washington on September 24, 2026, with trade, Taiwan, artificial intelligence and energy expected to be among the major issues.
- Huawei AI chip push: Huawei has unveiled the Atlas 960 SuperPoD computing system as China accelerates development of domestic AI hardware.
- China-US trade: Beijing and Washington are discussing tariff arrangements ahead of the Xi-Trump summit, with markets watching for progress on trade and agricultural purchases.
- China exports: China’s exports increased about 25% year-on-year in August, while imports also recorded strong growth, according to recent trade data.
- Advanced manufacturing: Xi Jinping has called for continued development of China’s advanced manufacturing sector, including smarter, greener and more resilient industrial supply chains.
- AI governance: Artificial intelligence regulation and safety are expected to feature in discussions between China and the United States.
- China economy: New-home prices continued to face pressure in August, while weak domestic consumption and investment remain areas of concern.
- Russia oil sanctions: China has rejected proposed US tariff pressure on countries purchasing Russian energy, saying normal trade should not face external coercion.
China News Today
China is at the centre of several major international and economic developments on September 18, 2026. The upcoming meeting between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, China’s technology push, export performance, manufacturing policy and economic conditions are among the biggest stories attracting attention today.
Xi Jinping and Trump to Meet in Washington
Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet Donald Trump in Washington on September 24, in what will be their second summit of 2026. The meeting comes as the world’s two largest economies continue to manage disagreements over tariffs, technology, Taiwan and other international issues.
Trade is expected to be one of the central topics. The current tariff arrangement between the two countries is due to expire in November, and businesses and financial markets are watching for indications of whether it will be extended.
Potential discussions could also cover Chinese purchases of US agricultural products, Boeing aircraft, rare-earth minerals and technology restrictions.
Huawei Accelerates AI and Chip Development
Chinese technology company Huawei has introduced the Atlas 960 SuperPoD computing cluster as part of its effort to expand domestic artificial-intelligence computing capabilities.
The new system is designed to improve AI training and inference performance compared with Huawei’s previous generation. The company also announced plans for future Ascend 970 and Ascend 980 chip series in 2028 and 2029.
Huawei’s announcements come amid continuing US restrictions on China’s access to some advanced semiconductor technologies and equipment. Chinese technology companies have consequently been investing heavily in domestic alternatives.
China Strengthens Advanced Manufacturing
Xi Jinping has called for sustained efforts to expand and strengthen advanced manufacturing, describing it as an important part of China’s industrial development strategy.
According to China’s government, the focus includes smart, green and integrated manufacturing, alongside stronger and more resilient industrial supply chains. Xi also called for greater self-reliance and risk resilience in industrial chains.
The manufacturing push covers areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, advanced equipment and other high-technology industries.
China’s Export Growth Remains Strong
China’s international trade continues to provide an important source of economic activity. Recent data showed Chinese exports increased approximately 25% year-on-year in August, while imports rose about 28.2%.
Strong demand for high-technology products and AI-related goods has contributed to export performance. At the same time, China’s domestic economy continues to face challenges involving consumer spending, investment and the property sector.
Property Market Remains Under Pressure
China’s housing market remains another important economic story. Recent data showed new-home prices in tier-one cities increased 0.1% month-on-month in August, but prices in tier-two and tier-three cities continued to decline. The annual decline in new-home prices narrowed to about 3%.
The property sector remains important because changes in housing prices can affect household confidence, construction activity, local-government finances and consumer spending.
AI Safety and US-China Technology Competition
Artificial intelligence is expected to be another major subject when Xi and Trump meet next week.
Both countries are developing AI systems rapidly, but they have different approaches to technology regulation and national security. Analysts cited by AP say meaningful cooperation on AI safety could be difficult because of the broader strategic competition between Washington and Beijing.
The discussions could nevertheless provide an opportunity for both governments to address risks associated with increasingly powerful AI systems.
China Responds to Russia Oil Tariff Threat
China has rejected proposed US tariff measures aimed at countries continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas. Beijing said its normal energy trade should not be subject to external pressure and argued that such measures lack a basis in international law.
The issue is significant for global energy markets because China remains a major energy importer. It also adds another subject to the broader US-China relationship ahead of the September 24 summit.
China’s Broader Economic Outlook
China’s economy is showing a mixed picture. Export growth and advanced manufacturing remain important sources of activity, while domestic consumption, investment and property-market weakness continue to attract attention. Recent economic reporting also points to pressure on employment among young graduates.
