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Xi skips UN gathering for Washington talks
The U.S.-China summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping ended without a joint statement on Sept. 25, according to the Korean report. The New York Times described the meeting as a symbol of the declining influence of the United Nations, noting that Xi traveled to Washington, D.C., for talks with Trump rather than attending the UN General Assembly in New York.
The visit differed from Xi's 2015 trip, when he traveled to Washington for a summit with then-President Barack Obama and also attended the UN General Assembly in New York. Jeffrey Prescott, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who previously served as U.S. ambassador to UN agencies in Rome during the Biden administration, said the scene was especially damaging for the UN's image. Other experts said Xi's decision could also have been motivated by a desire to keep the White House meeting as the central focus of his U.S. visit.
UN faces challenges on global conflicts and AI
The New York Times also pointed to broader challenges facing the UN, including conflicts involving Iran, Gaza and Ukraine. The report said divisions among the United States, China and Russia, which hold veto power on the UN Security Council, have limited the body's ability to pass binding resolutions and authorize sanctions or military action.
The report also highlighted tensions over artificial intelligence governance. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an international framework for managing AI, while the United States and China have remained cautious about international limits on their domestic AI development.
Business leaders attend White House dinner as talks continue
Trump and Xi delivered remarks at a White House state dinner on Sept. 24 after three days of meetings, but the discussions ended without a formal agreement. The dinner included U.S. business leaders such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Chinese business executives did not attend, while Chinese government and Communist Party officials were present.
Trump said the two countries had made significant progress, while Xi said the relationship should move toward strategic stability based on respect, fairness and reciprocity. The two leaders indicated plans to meet again, with Xi inviting Trump and his wife to upcoming gatherings in Shenzhen for APEC in November and Miami for the G20 in December. Trump said he would meet Xi at both events. Separately, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said details from trade talks connected to the summit would be released on Sept. 28.
China and the U.S. continue to shape the UN debate
Despite criticism of the UN's effectiveness, the organization remains a key forum in global affairs. China has increased its financial contributions to the UN under Xi's leadership while seeking greater influence within the organization. The Trump administration has reduced U.S. support for the UN and withdrawn from several agencies, but recently notified Congress that it planned to pay $850 million toward roughly $5 billion in unpaid contributions.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said the UN has survived not because it is perfect, but because it cannot be replaced.
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