Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in Busan, South Korea, Oct. 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

　　BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese capital will soon become the setting for one of the most closely watched, high-stakes diplomatic encounters of the year, as the leaders of the world's two largest economies prepare to meet face-to-face.

　　This will be U.S. President Donald Trump's first state visit to China since his re-election, and the second time Chinese President Xi Jinping has hosted him in the country -- their last such meeting in the country took place nearly a decade ago.

　　Against the backdrop of a complex international landscape and shared global challenges, expectations are running high: How can President Xi and President Trump manage differences between the two sides? How can they navigate the world's most consequential bilateral relationship?

　　AT THE HELM OF A GIANT SHIP

　　"You and I are at the helm of China-U.S. relations," Xi told Trump during their latest vis-a-vis talks held in Busan, South Korea, in October 2025. Lasting more than 100 minutes, the meeting marked another moment of direct engagement between the two leaders as they sought to steer China-U.S. relations through uncertainty.

　　Using a maritime metaphor that has become a recurring theme in his remarks, Xi asked the U.S. president to help keep the "giant ship" of bilateral ties sailing steadily forward.

　　Over the years, head-of-state diplomacy has anchored China-U.S. relations, serving as a stabilizing force amid shifting global currents. Since Trump's re-election, Xi has spoken with him by phone five times, maintaining close communication on ties and global hotspot issues.