United States President Donald Trump hailed Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “great leader” and “friend” as the two global powers opened high-level talks in Beijing on Thursday, with discussions expected to focus on fragile trade relations, tensions over Taiwan and the ongoing Iran conflict.
The closely watched summit marks Trump’s first visit to China since 2017 and comes at a politically sensitive time for the US president, whose approval ratings have been hit by growing concerns over instability in the Middle East and rising economic pressures at home.
Trump arrived in Beijing alongside a delegation of top American business leaders, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, as Washington pushes for improved market access and renewed economic cooperation with China.
The leaders met at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People in a highly choreographed ceremony featuring military honours, cheering schoolchildren and displays of both American and Chinese flags.
“You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway,” Trump told Xi during opening remarks. “It’s an honour to be your friend and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.”
Xi responded by emphasising the importance of stable relations between the world’s two largest economies.
“When we cooperate, both sides benefit; when we confront each other, both sides suffer,” the Chinese president said.
The talks come amid shifting geopolitical and economic dynamics since Trump’s last official visit to Beijing. Analysts say China now enters negotiations from a stronger position, while the US president faces mounting domestic challenges, including legal limits on tariff powers and economic fallout linked to the Iran conflict.
Despite ongoing tensions, both countries are keen to preserve a trade truce reached last year, which paused steep tariffs on Chinese goods and eased fears of supply disruptions involving critical rare earth minerals.
Trade and technology are expected to dominate discussions, with Washington seeking increased Chinese purchases of American goods such as Boeing aircraft, energy and agricultural products. Beijing, meanwhile, wants the US to ease restrictions on advanced semiconductor technology and chipmaking equipment exports.
The issue of Taiwan is also expected to feature prominently. China has strongly opposed potential new US arms sales to the self-governed island, which Beijing claims as its territory.
Trump is additionally expected to urge China to help pressure Iran towards a diplomatic agreement with Washington, although analysts believe Beijing is unlikely to significantly shift its support for Tehran.
The two leaders are scheduled to continue talks on Friday, including informal meetings and a state banquet aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties between the rival superpowers.