U.S. President Donald Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday that the two global powers would have a “great future” together during their meeting in Beijing.
Speaking at the talks held at the Great Hall of the People, Trump said, “It is an honor to be with you. It is an honor to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the United States will be better than ever.”
He added that both countries would enjoy “a great future.”
Xi welcomed Trump in Beijing for a summit focused on a range of contentious issues and their global implications, from trade to Iran and Taiwan.
At the Great Hall of the People, Xi greeted several U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has long been known for his tough stance toward Beijing.
Trump and Xi stood at the center as a Chinese military band played the American and Chinese national anthems, accompanied by a ceremonial gun salute.
Temple of Heaven Visit
Following their high-level talks, Trump and Xi visited Beijing’s historic Temple of Heaven.
The two presidents arrived at the UNESCO World Heritage site shortly after 1:00 p.m. local time (05:00 GMT). Speaking to reporters afterward, Trump said, “China is beautiful,” following discussions on several sensitive issues.
“Partners, Not Rivals”
Xi told Trump during the meeting that their countries should be “partners, not rivals.”
“Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both,” Xi said. “We should be partners, not rivals.”
He added that he was pleased to welcome Trump on the U.S. president’s first visit to China since 2017, noting that “the world stands at a crossroads.”
China’s Doors Will Open Wider
During a meeting with American business executives accompanying Trump, Xi promised that China’s doors would “open wider and wider” to the world, according to state media.
China’s official Xinhua News Agency quoted Xi as saying: “American companies are actively participating in China’s reform and opening-up journey, and both sides benefit from this. China’s doors will continue to open wider. China welcomes stronger mutually beneficial cooperation with the United States and is confident that American companies will enjoy better prospects in China.”
Regional and Global Issues
China’s Foreign Ministry said the two leaders also exchanged views on major international and regional issues, particularly the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the Korean Peninsula.
Trump is expected to prioritize trade agreements in agriculture, aviation, and other sectors, accompanied by a delegation of prominent business leaders.
Before departing Washington, Trump wrote on social media: “I will ask President Xi to ‘open’ China so these brilliant people can unleash their creativity and help take the People’s Republic of China to the next level.”
However, Trump’s ambitions to boost trade between the world’s two largest economies are accompanied by political tensions over Taiwan and the war involving Iran, which had previously delayed the visit originally planned for March.
Trump said on Tuesday before leaving the White House that he would hold “extensive talks” with Xi regarding Iran, which sells most of its oil to China despite U.S. sanctions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio struck a somewhat different tone, telling Fox News on Wednesday: “We hope to persuade them to play a more active role in pushing Iran to abandon what it is currently doing, and what it is trying to do in the Arabian Gulf.”
Tariff Truce
The two leaders are also expected to discuss Chinese export restrictions on rare earth minerals, artificial intelligence competition, and strained trade relations.
Trump and Xi are scheduled to discuss extending the tariff truce for another year after reaching the agreement during their previous meeting in South Korea in October, amid the ongoing trade dispute marked by reciprocal tariffs.
On Taiwan—another major source of tension—Trump said Monday that he would discuss U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with Xi, marking a departure from Washington’s longstanding policy of not consulting Beijing on its support for the self-governing democratic island, which China claims and has vowed to reunify by force if necessary.
Both sides are expected to seek concrete gains from the summit while also attempting to stabilize the strained relationship between Beijing and Washington, which carries global consequences.
Trump also hopes to leave the summit with a confirmed date for Xi to visit the United States later in 2026, highlighting the personal rapport between the two leaders.
Later in the evening, Xi is set to host a formal state dinner at the same venue. Trump’s itinerary also includes a visit to the Temple of Heaven, where Chinese emperors once prayed for abundant harvests.
Trump arrived in China on Wednesday night aboard Air Force One for a two-day visit, accompanied by influential business figures including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Elon Musk, signaling the administration’s strong focus on trade and business.
This marks the first visit by a U.S. president to Beijing in nearly a decade, following Trump’s previous visit in 2017, when he was accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump.
AFP
