President Donald Trump struck a warm and optimistic tone during a high-profile bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, emphasizing friendship, trade and future cooperation between the world’s two largest economies.
Speaking from the Great Hall of the People, Trump described the summit as potentially “maybe the biggest summit ever” and repeatedly highlighted his personal relationship with Xi, even as tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to shape global politics and trade.
“We’ve had a fantastic relationship. We’ve gotten along when there were difficulties, we worked it out,” Trump said during opening remarks. “We’re going to have a fantastic future together. I have such respect for China, the job you’ve done.”
Trump arrived at the meeting accompanied by a delegation packed with some of America’s most recognizable business leaders, signaling the administration’s interest in strengthening commercial ties with China. Among those attending were Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.
“We have the greatest business and the biggest, I guess. Best in the world. Amazing people, and they’re all with me,” Trump said. “We asked the top 30 in the world. Every single one of them said yes.”
The president said the executives were in Beijing “to pay respects to you, China” and were eager to pursue new business opportunities. He also stressed that future trade relations would be conducted on a reciprocal basis.
“It’s going to be totally reciprocal on our behalf,” Trump said.
The comments represented a notably conciliatory tone from Trump toward China and Xi personally. At one point, Trump joked that critics dislike when he praises the Chinese leader.
“People don’t like it when I call you a great leader, but I say it anyway, because it’s true,” Trump told Xi. “It’s an honor to be with you. It’s an honor to be your friend.”
Trump added that “the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.”
Seated alongside Trump were Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, underscoring the diplomatic weight of the meeting.
For his part, Xi framed the summit in broader historical and geopolitical terms, warning that the international order is entering a period of profound uncertainty.
“Currently, transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe, and the international situation is fluid and turbulent,” Xi said. “The world has come to a new crossroads.”
Xi also referenced the “Thucydides Trap,” a geopolitical theory suggesting that conflict often arises when an emerging power challenges an established global power. The Chinese leader suggested both nations face a defining test in determining whether competition can be managed peacefully.
“Can China and the United States overcome the Thucydides trap and create a new paradigm of major country relations?” Xi asked. “Can we meet global challenges together and provide more stability for the world?”
“These are the questions vital to history, to the world and to the people,” Xi continued. “They are the questions of our times that you and I need to answer as leaders of major countries.”
Xi emphasized that China and the United States should be “partners, not rivals,” a phrase likely intended to project stability amid ongoing economic and military competition between the two nations.
Despite the sweeping rhetoric from both leaders, neither Trump nor Xi provided specific details about what topics would dominate the private discussions. Trade, technology restrictions, tariffs, supply chains and security issues in the Indo-Pacific are all expected to remain major areas of focus in the broader U.S.-China relationship.
Still, the public remarks reflected an effort by both leaders to present a cooperative image at a time when global markets and international allies are closely watching the direction of relations between Washington and Beijing.
Xi acknowledged the global attention surrounding the summit, saying plainly that “the whole world is watching.”
