The exchange at a highly anticipated summit in Beijing underscored just how far apart Trump and Xi remain on thorny issues, including the war in Iran, trade disputes and Washington's relations with Taiwan, which is self-ruled but which China claims as part of its territory.
The pair met for about two hours behind closed doors at the Great Hall of the People after an elaborate welcome ceremony featuring booming cannons, a band playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and China’s national anthem, and hundreds of school children waving flowers and American and Chinese flags.
According to a post on X by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, Xi told Trump that “the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations.”
"If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy,” she wrote.
That came after a brief public exchange before the meeting began in which Trump offered platitudes, telling Xi: “You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true.”
“It’s an honor to be your friend,” Trump said before promising that “the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.”
Xi was far more stark than Trump in his opening remarks, expressing hope that the U.S. and China could avoid conflict and asking “whether the two countries can transcend the ‘Thucydides Trap’ and forge a new model for relations between major powers.”
That's a term, popular in foreign policy studies, that refers to the idea that when a rising power threatens to displace an established power, the result is often war. Xi's use of the term as Trump offered optimism was noteworthy and foreshadowed his closed-door comments about Taiwan.
Xi nonetheless struck a more conciliatory tone when describing the overall relationship. “Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both,” Xi said. “The two countries should be partners rather than rivals.”
The leaders emphasized the importance of China-US relations
After their meeting, Xi took Trump on a tour of Beijing Temple of Heaven, and hosted a state banquet for him in the evening. The Chinese leader used his toast to note that he and Trump had kept U.S.-China relations “generally stable,” but that “the world today is changing and turbulent.”
Xi also referenced Trump's “Make America Great Again” movement and noted that “our two countries should be partners rather than rivals.”
Trump, in his toast, again called Xi “my friend” and said his visit had been “a great honor” punctuated by a “fantastic" first full day. He said matters “all good for the United States and China” were discussed Thursday “and it was a great honor to be with you."
Trump also announced that Xi would make a reciprocal visit to the White House on Sept. 24 — a date not previously announced.
That positive tone also was reflected in the White House assessment in the earlier closed-door meetings, which said both leaders had touched on ways to enhance economic cooperation, including expanding market access for American businesses into China and increasing Chinese investment into U.S. industries.
That assessment didn't mention Taiwan directly, but, in relation to Iran, said both sides had agreed that the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil and natural gas, must remain open. The strait's closure has stranded tankers and caused energy prices to spike, threatening global economic growth.
China is the largest purchaser of Iranian oil, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Trump would make the case for Beijing to exert its influence on Iran, noting that administration officials would underscore that “economies are melting down because of this crisis,” which means consumers are “buying less Chinese product.”
