The leaders of the two superpowers are now face-to-face in Beijing to resolve a host of trade, technology, and geopolitical disputes that have accumulated in recent years. After landing Wednesday night in the Chinese capital, U.S. President Donald Trump was received Thursday by his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in the Great Hall of the People, the building reserved for major political occasions, where the first round of negotiations between the two leaders took place.
“The relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before,” the Republican leader declared in their first exchange of words, open to the press. He repeatedly emphasized that “it’s an honor to be your friend.”
Xi, as usual, began by speaking of a world in flux with a phrase he has turned into a mantra. “Changes unseen in a century are accelerating,” he said, adding that the international situation is going through a period marked by turbulence and intertwined transformations. “The world has once again arrived at a new crossroads.”
He also warned that Taiwan is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations. “If handled poorly, the two countries will collide or even clash, putting the entire U.S.-China relationship in an extremely dangerous situation.”
Seated on the left side of the room, surrounded by his trusted team, Xi launched a barrage of questions across the room, where Trump and his delegation sat: “Can China and the United States overcome the ‘Thucydides Trap’ and establish a new paradigm for relations between great powers?,” he asked, alluding to the ancient rivalry between Athens and Sparta. “Can they join forces to address global challenges and inject more stability into the world? Can they, keeping in mind the well-being of the people of both countries and the future and destiny of humanity, jointly build a better future for bilateral relations?”
Minutes before sitting down to negotiate, during the official reception at the foot of the steps leading to the Great Hall of the People, on one side of the historic Tiananmen Square, the Chinese government displayed the usual pomp with which they receive heads of state: children waving flags of both countries while exclaiming in unison, “Warm welcome!”, cannon salutes, the review of the troops, and the respective anthems played by the military band.
It’s striking to see Xi and Trump, with their long list of differences, walking together on the same path used by delegates to the Chinese Communist Party Congress. Xi seemed particularly cheerful as they shook hands.
The summit, which will last until Friday, comes after the world’s first and second largest economies became embroiled in a bitter trade and tariff dispute in 2025, a dispute that was temporarily suspended for a year at their last meeting in October in Busan, South Korea. The tone from Beijing and Washington heading into the summit is positive, indicating that both countries are seeking to stabilize their relations and extend the current understanding: the leaders are expected to set the strategic direction for relations in the coming months.
But beneath the friendly facade, the meeting also reveals tensions, grievances, and suspicions that have accumulated in recent years: from U.S. technological restrictions—which China sees as an attempt to curb its development—to Beijing’s ability to exert pressure by limiting exports of rare earths and other minerals critical to U.S. industry.
The Trump Administration has emphasized the commercial and economic nature of the trip, and its intention to advance agreements to get China to commit to buying more American products, specifically the so-called three B’s: soybeans, beef, and Boeing airplanes.
In his introductory remarks, Trump referred to the powerful entourage of businessmen accompanying him on this trip, all top executives of American multinationals, including Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX), Tim Cook (Apple), Larry Fink (BlackRock, the world’s largest investment fund), and Jensen Huang (Nvidia, chip designer, the most valuable company on the planet by market capitalization, and a critical piece in the technological rivalry in this era of AI).
“We have the greatest business and the biggest, I guess. Best in the world. Amazing people, and they’re all with me,” Trump said. “I wanted only the top, and they’re here to pay respects to you, China.”
His speech was filled with praise: “I have great respect for China, for the work it has done. You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true.”
Xi Jinping also expressed his willingness to reach an understanding: “When both sides cooperate, both benefit; when they clash, both are harmed,” he said. “China and the United States should be partners, not adversaries, promoting mutual achievement and shared prosperity, and paving the right path for coexistence between great powers in the new era.” He concluded his remarks with signals of the openness that Trump is calling for, mentioning his intention that the summit serve to “guide” relations and make 2026 “a historic and landmark year that marks both continuity and the beginning of a new stage” between the two countries.
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