US President Donald Trump is set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House as the two leaders seek to maintain a fragile trade truce between their countries.

Trump personally welcomed Xi after he arrived in Washington on Wednesday, marking the first time in more than six decades that a US president has greeted a foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews.

The visit includes a formal welcome ceremony, military flyover, talks at the Oval Office and a state dinner.

Trade relations, artificial intelligence, the war involving Iran and tensions over Taiwan are expected to feature in discussions between the two leaders.

The US and China have also agreed to extend their current trade truce by two months, helping to prevent an immediate return to the tariff conflict between the two countries.

Xi said China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals and expressed his readiness for discussions on bilateral and global issues.