US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a three-day state visit in Washington, presenting a facade of accord between the two powers while sidestepping the thorny issues that continue to strain relations. Despite the pageantry, few specific results emerged from the talks.
At a state banquet Thursday evening, Trump said, "President Xi and I are aware that we represent different systems," adding that "the bonds between our peoples continue and we have never understood each other better than now." Xi spoke of "many new agreements" reached during bilateral discussions but offered no details. He urged both nations to demonstrate responsibility at what he called a "historic starting point" and to find a new path for great-power coexistence.
According to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, the two leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the Korean Peninsula. Xi reaffirmed China's position on Taiwan and expressed hope that "the US will adhere to its correct stance against Taiwanese independence" and handle the issue prudently. The US supplies arms to the self-governed island, while China claims sovereignty and does not rule out military force.
The visit marked Xi's first arrival at the White House since 2015 and his first trip to the US since attending an economic summit in California in 2023. Speculation swirled about possible further meetings this year at an APEC economic summit in Shenzhen and a G20 summit in Miami. Both sides affirmed they would support each other in hosting the events, according to Xinhua.
Shortly after Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan arrived Wednesday, the US government announced another temporary pause in its tariff dispute with China. Beijing did not immediately confirm the suspension.
Former US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns dismissed the lavish welcome as misplaced. "His overall strategy is to undermine the United States," Burns told PBS, noting he had worked extensively with Xi and found him persistent and pragmatic. "I don't believe Xi Jinping is influenced by flattery."
The relationship between the two nuclear powers remains fraught. Trump faces pressure over the Iran war and the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormus, which has pushed oil and gas prices sharply higher. China is by far the largest buyer of Iranian oil and a key political partner of Tehran; Washington hopes Beijing will leverage that relationship to secure the vital shipping route.
Tensions over Russia also weigh on ties. A new US sanctions package against Russia permits Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries continuing to purchase Russian oil or gas — a measure that could target China alongside India. China remains one of Russia's principal trading partners.
Artificial intelligence security was also expected to feature in the discussions, as the two countries compete on the frontier technology.
Xi's Washington visit concluded Thursday. Before departing, he was scheduled to meet Trump again for a tea ceremony and a visit to the National Archives to view founding US documents, following the country's 250th anniversary celebrations this summer.
