Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met US President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where Trump said the two countries were going to have a “fantastic future together” as high-level talks between the two sides got underway.
“It’s an honour to be with you. It’s an honour to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before,” Trump said during opening remarks alongside Xi. “We’re going to have a fantastic future together.”
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Trump also praised Xi, calling him a “great leader” and describing the meeting as “an honour like few I’ve ever seen before.”
Xi, in his remarks, said he was "happy" to host Trump for the US leader's first trip to China since 2017 as "the world has arrived at a new crossroads."
“I have always believed that the common interests between China and the United States outweigh the differences,” Xi said, adding that “the success of China and the United States is an opportunity for each other” and that stable ties between the two countries were “a good thing for the world.”
However, Xi also issued a warning over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Xi told Trump that the issue could push the two countries toward conflict if mishandled.
“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” Xi said, according to CCTV. “If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation.”
The two leaders met at the landmark political venue overlooking Tiananmen Square after Trump arrived to an elaborate welcome ceremony featuring a red carpet reception and student performances, where children waved flowers and US-China flags while chanting “welcome to China” in Mandarin.
The summit comes at a time of strained global geopolitics, with discussions expected to span trade, Taiwan, Iran and broader economic cooperation. However, neither side has signalled any major agreements so far.
The White House has said Trump’s visit is aimed at advancing economic outcomes, including possible Chinese commitments to increase purchases of U.S. agricultural goods such as soybeans and beef, as well as aircraft. Officials have also indicated discussions on establishing a formal trade mechanism to manage bilateral disputes.
The visit also comes against the backdrop of rising tensions over Iran, where conflict has disrupted energy markets and pushed up global oil prices. China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, is expected to face pressure from Washington to play a greater role in easing the crisis.
The talks are also expected to cover Taiwan, after Washington approved an $11 billion arms package for the island, which China claims as its territory. The issue remains a major point of friction between the two powers.
Alongside political tensions, economic discussions are expected to focus on extending a fragile trade truce reached last year, rare earth supply chains, and greater US access to Chinese markets.
Trump is also accompanied by a large delegation of senior officials and business leaders, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, along with executives from major technology and defence firms.
The visit is expected to include further ceremonial engagements, including a state banquet and a tour of historical sites in Beijing.
