A summit between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could end up being a ‘horse and pony show,’ experts say, according to Al Jazeera. The meeting is slated to cover trade, artificial intelligence and security, but analysts warn that the priority for both sides may be rebuilding trust rather than clinching major agreements.

Experts point out that the U.S. and China have long struggled to establish a reliable framework for cooperation. In a context where trade disputes, AI competition and security concerns dominate headlines, the leaders may use the summit as an opportunity to signal goodwill and reduce tensions. However, the lack of a clear, binding agenda suggests that substantive deals are unlikely to materialise during the talks. Rebuilding trust, according to the experts, is a prerequisite for any future collaboration in the areas the summit lists.

For the global community, the outcome of the Trump‑Xi meeting matters because it could shape the trajectory of U.S.–China relations, which in turn influence worldwide trade flows, technology development and security dynamics. While the summit may not produce concrete agreements, it could lay groundwork for future negotiations and signal a willingness to engage. The next steps will likely involve follow‑up meetings and diplomatic exchanges aimed at gradually restoring confidence between the two powers, setting the stage for more substantive cooperation down the line.