Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump started a crucial series of meetings in Beijing on Thursday in a U.S.-China summit where stability in the relationship is the main goal of the two days of discussions.
The White House and Chinese state media said the leaders concluded their meeting Thursday morning after about two hours. Trump is expected to leave just after midday Friday after a final private meeting with Xi. But few breakthroughs are expected on divisive issues ranging from the Iran war, trade, technology and Taiwan.
Trump hopes to focus the summit talks on trade and deals for China to buy more agricultural products and passenger planes, setting up a board to address their differences and avoid a repeat of the trade war ignited last year after Trump’s tariff hikes.
In their closed-door meeting, Xi told Trump that if Taiwan is handled well, U.S.-China relations “will enjoy overall stability.” If not, the two countries risk “clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy,” Xi said, according to China's official Xinhua News Agency.
Trump in December authorized an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as its own territory. The U.S. has not yet moved forward with delivery.
Xi said China’s door of opening to U.S. business will only open wider, he told American corporate leaders who accompanied Trump. The U.S. president said the business leaders all respect and value China and he encourages them to expand cooperation with China, Xinhua reported.
The war with Iran is also likely to be a key topic. Ahead of the meetings, Trump hoped China would use its considerable leverage to prod Iran to agree to U.S. terms to end the two-month old war or reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz, but he has tempered those calls ahead of the summit.
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Trump and Xi could meet up to 4 times in 2026
U.S. and Chinese officials say Trump and Xi could potentially meet four times in 2026.
The meetings could include the Group of 20 meeting in Miami and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Guangzhou later this year.
Trump invites Xi to visit White House in September
Trump extended a Sept. 24 invitation to Xi and his wife, Madame Peng, during his reciprocal toast.
“And we look forward to it,” Trump said.
He also thanked Xi for his hospitality.
“This has been an amazing period of time,” Trump said.
Chinese social media finds humor in Trump comment about executives
A comment by Donald Trump about the U.S. business executives chosen to accompany him to China has become a source of humor on Chinese social media.
“I didn’t want the second or the third in the company. I wanted only the top, and they’re here today to pay respects to you and to China,” Trump told Xi when the leaders met Thursday.
Trump’s comments was ranked second in trending topics on Weibo, a social media platform curated by censors.
The posts included jokes about how the corporate executives were grateful to be there and pictures of them flashing a thumbs-up sign while leaving the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday.
Trump recounts ‘fantastic day’ in China to open banquet toast
“This is a great honor. It was a fantastic day,” Trump said. “It really was a magnificent welcome like none other.”
He described his talks with Xi as “extremely positive conversations” and said everything that they discussed was “all good for the United States and China.
“And it was a great honor to be with you,” the U.S. president said, referring to his Chinese counterpart.
Xi says U.S.-China relationship is most important in the world
Xi Jinping called for the China and the U.S. to work together as partners rather than rivals in an opening toast ahead of the state banquet that was largely positive though measured.
“We both believe that China and the U.S. relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. We must make it work and never mess it up,” Xi said.
Xi noted it was the 250th anniversary of American independence.
“Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America Great Again can go hand in hand,” he said. “Both China and U.S. stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation, should be partners rather than rivals.”
He then toasted Trump and the audience.
Taiwan calls China the ‘only risk’ to regional stability
“China is currently the only risk to regional peace and stability,” Taiwan’s Ministry of Affairs said in response to Xi’s warning Thursday for the U.S. to be careful.
“Even during the meeting between the leaders of the United States and China, the People’s Liberation Army continued to send military aircraft and ships to harass and threaten Taiwan in the region,” the ministry said.
Xi said “Taiwan independence” and cross-strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water, while noting the issue was the most important in the bilateral relationship.
Xi’s wording on Taiwan may indicate Trump didn’t budge
Xi’s stark warning to Trump over Taiwan may indicate the U.S. president did not make concessions Thursday over the island democracy China claims as its own, an analyst said.
Any meaningful concession would have been reflected in Beijing’s official readout of the meeting, said William Yang, a senior analyst for Northeast Asia for International Crisis Group.
“The lack of such mention and the relatively stern tone suggest Trump may not have budged on Taiwan in principle,” Yang said.
Wen-Ti Sung of the Atlantic Council said Xi’s warning of potential conflict signaled Taiwan remains the Chinese government’s biggest red line.
“Taiwan is the identity-defining issue in U.S.-China relations: get Taiwan right and we are friends; get Taiwan wrong and we might become foes before you know it,” Sung said.
What Trump and Xi discussed at the Temple of Heaven
U.S. reporters were mainly kept far away from the leaders when they toured the UNESCO heritage site.
But China’s official Xinhua News Agency cited Trump as being impressed to see the Temple of Heaven still standing tall and magnificent after over 600 years, showcasing exquisite Chinese classical architectural art.
Xi said ancient Chinese rulers held sacrificial ceremonies at the temple to pray for national peace and prosperity.
Xi said it showed the traditional Chinese thought that “the people are the foundation of the state, and when the foundation is solid, the state is stable,” according to Xinhua.
Trump said he vividly remembers his 2017 visit to the Forbidden City, Xinhua reported.
Trump attends Chinese state banquet in his honor
The affair brought Trump back to the Great Hall of the People, where he opened his first full day in Beijing in closed-door talks with Xi.
Inside the hall, round tables were draped with white tablecloths.
Key members of Trump’s Cabinet including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent milled about before Trump arrived.
Chinese premier stresses cooperation in talk with US executives
Chinese Premier Li Qiang stressed the need for friendship and cooperation in U.S.-China ties as he spoke with U.S. business leaders accompanying President Donald Trump in Beijing.
Li met executives including Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on the sidelines of Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“China and the United States have been able to maintain frank and smooth dialogue and communication and actively safeguard a stable and healthy bilateral relationship” despite international turbulence, Li said.
Collaboration is needed for “mutual success and shared prosperity,” Li added.
China’s language shows ‘core’ focus on Taiwan
China has ramped up its language around Taiwan by noting repeatedly in recent weeks that Taiwan is the “core” of its interests and a key to ensuring a stable relationship with the U.S.
Trump has demanded Taiwan increase defense spending and in December the White House announced an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan, the largest ever to the island democracy.
Ma Chun-wei, an expert in China-Taiwan relations at Taiwan’s Tamkang University, said the elevated defense relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan has caused China to increase its rhetoric over Taiwan.
“For Xi Jinping, he must show that the Taiwan issue is in China’s hands. He must demonstrate this image, or else he would be criticized,” Ma said.
Trump and Xi discussed Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz
The leaders were in agreement that the Strait of Hormuz needs to be opened to support global energy needs, according to a readout of their Thursday meeting by a White House official.
Xi also opposed any implementation of tolls on vessels crossing the strait, which effectively has closed since the start of the U.S. and Israel war against Iran.
Xi expressed interest in China purchasing more U.S. oil to reduce future Chinese dependence on Gulf oil, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The leaders also discussed further stemming the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals into the U.S. and increasing Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products.
China’s commerce ministry open to expanded US cooperation
China is willing to work with the U.S. to continuously expand its cooperation list, China’s Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yongqian said Thursday.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent engaged in “candid, in-depth and constructive” exchanges in South Korea on Wednesday, He said.
For the next step, China is willing to work with the U.S. to expand their cooperation based on the principles of equality, respect and mutual benefit, He said.
They also would shorten the problem list while promoting healthy economic and trade ties between the sides, He said.
Chinese social media finds humor in Trump comment about executives
A comment by Donald Trump about the U.S. business executives chosen to accompany him to China has become a source of humor on Chinese social media.
“I didn’t want the second or the third in the company. I wanted only the top, and they’re here today to pay respects to you and to China,” Trump told Xi when the leaders met Thursday.
Trump’s comments was ranked second in trending topics on Weibo, a social media platform curated by censors.
The posts included jokes about how the corporate executives were grateful to be there and pictures of them flashing a thumbs-up sign while leaving the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday.
Analyst says Xi is setting boundaries
George Chen, a partner at The Asia Group consultancy, said Xi wants to set clear boundaries on what the U.S. can and cannot do with China.
Politically it’s all about Taiwan, Chen said, noting Xi’s opposition to independence for the island democracy.
“He makes the ‘red line’ crystal clear,” he said.
Chen said Xi has sought to reassure U.S. businesspeople that China is a place they can make money, which could be seen as Xi’s response to Trump’s demand for China to provide a more favorable environment for U.S. firms.
Chen said Xi suggested the relationship’s “strategic stability” can continue at least for the rest of Trump’s term, which can be perceived as progress.