The two leaders are scheduled to meet on Thursday, September 24, for their second face-to-face meeting this year. Their discussions are expected to cover trade, artificial intelligence, defence and other major global issues. Xi arrived in Washington on Wednesday for a three-day state visit.
The timing has drawn attention because Xi, who rarely travels to New York for the General Assembly, is visiting Washington while world leaders are attending the UN gathering.
The contrast has renewed debate over whether the UN remains an effective centre for resolving major international disputes.
The questions are not new, but have become more prominent as the organisation faces financial difficulties, divisions among major powers and limited progress on conflicts including Ukraine and the Middle East.
The UN has also faced growing pressure from the administration of President Trump, which has reduced US involvement and funding for several international organisations. The United States recently paid $725 million towards its UN obligations, but still owed more than $1.3 billion in regular budget contributions, according to Reuters.
The organisation has been implementing reforms under the UN80 initiative, which aims to reduce costs, eliminate duplication and improve efficiency.
The UN's difficulties extend beyond finances. The Security Council has frequently been deadlocked, with its five permanent members often divided over major international crises.
Despite these challenges, the General Assembly remains a major venue for diplomacy. More than 1,000 bilateral meetings were scheduled during this year's gathering, providing governments with opportunities to hold discussions that may not otherwise take place.
Trump's speech to the General Assembly on Tuesday included criticism of several UN institutions and a broader attack on what he described as globalist policies. He also defended his administration's foreign policy and positions on conflicts and the global economy.
Xi, meanwhile, has used international forums including the UN to present China as a supporter of multilateral cooperation, particularly among developing countries.
The General Assembly has also provided space for diplomatic contacts on some of the world's most difficult conflicts.
US and Iranian representatives communicated through mediators on the sidelines of the meeting this week, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy used his visit to New York for talks with Trump on efforts to end the war with Russia.
The Trump-Xi meeting therefore comes at a moment when governments continue to rely on both traditional multilateral institutions and direct negotiations between major powers.
For supporters of the UN, its continued role as a forum where countries can meet, negotiate and coordinate remains significant. Its critics, however, point to financial pressures, Security Council deadlock and its limited ability to stop ongoing conflicts as evidence of the organisation's growing constraints.
