Beijing (Web Desk/Agencies): Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Donald Trump at the opening of their two-day summit in Beijing on Thursday that negotiations on trade were moving forward positively, but cautioned that tensions surrounding Taiwan could push ties between the two powers toward a perilous situation.
Xi’s remarks came as the leaders met following a grand ceremonial welcome at Beijing’s historic Great Hall of the People, where Trump hailed the gathering as potentially the “biggest summit ever.”
The visit carries major diplomatic and political importance for Trump, whose popularity at home has been weakened by the Iran conflict. It is also the first time a sitting American president has travelled to China since Trump’s previous visit in 2017.
The summit opened with a lavish ceremony featuring a military honour guard and large groups of children enthusiastically waving flowers and national flags before the two leaders addressed the media.
During his opening remarks, Xi stressed that steady and constructive relations between Beijing and Washington were essential not only for the two countries but also for global stability.
"When we cooperate, both sides benefit; when we confront each other, both sides suffer," he said in brief remarks that were open to media.
Trump responded by praising the Chinese leader directly. "You're a great leader, sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway," Trump responded. "There are those who say this may be the biggest summit ever," he added.
According to a statement released by China’s foreign ministry, Xi noted that trade discussions held a day earlier between Chinese and American economic officials in South Korea had achieved “overall balanced and positive outcomes.”
Sources familiar with the discussions said the talks focused on preserving the trade ceasefire agreed upon by Trump and Xi last October while also creating channels to encourage future trade and investment cooperation.
Xi also raised the Taiwan issue during the meeting. China considers the democratically governed island part of its territory, while the United States continues to provide Taipei with military support.
The Chinese leader reportedly told Trump that Taiwan remained the most sensitive matter in bilateral relations and warned that mishandling the issue could result in conflict and an extremely dangerous scenario. The formal talks lasted slightly more than two hours.
Later, while the two leaders posed for photographs at the Temple of Heaven — the UNESCO World Heritage site where Chinese emperors once prayed for prosperous harvests — Trump ignored reporters’ questions regarding whether Taiwan had been discussed.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the leaders additionally agreed to enhance collaboration in agriculture and trade while also exchanging opinions on developments in the Middle East, Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula.
The schedule for the visit includes a state banquet hosted by Xi, followed by tea and lunch meetings on Friday.
Accompanying Trump on the trip are several influential American business leaders seeking improved access and smoother relations with China, among them Elon Musk and Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, who joined the delegation at the last moment. Trump has repeatedly stated that his top objective is persuading Beijing to “open up” its markets further to US businesses.
During the discussions, Trump formally introduced the executives to Xi. According to the Chinese account of the meeting, Xi responded by saying China’s policy of openness would continue expanding and that American companies remained deeply involved in China’s economic reforms and development.
Analysts say Trump has increasingly acknowledged China’s rise as a global power, including by reviving the term “G2” — referring to a partnership between the world’s two dominant powers — during his last meeting with Xi at the APEC summit in South Korea in October.
Trump has also faced growing constraints at home. US courts have limited his authority to impose tariffs freely on Chinese and other imports, while the economic fallout from the Iran war has contributed to inflation concerns and increased political risks for Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Although China’s economy has slowed in recent years, Xi is not dealing with the same level of political or economic pressure domestically.
Even so, both governments appear determined to preserve the trade truce reached last year. Under that arrangement, Trump halted plans for triple-digit tariffs on Chinese products, while Beijing refrained from restricting exports of rare earth minerals essential for industries ranging from electric vehicles to military manufacturing.
Officials involved in planning the summit said the agenda also includes discussions on mechanisms to support bilateral investment and trade, as well as dialogue on artificial intelligence cooperation.
Washington is hoping to increase sales of Boeing aircraft, agricultural commodities and energy products to China in an effort to reduce the longstanding trade imbalance that has long frustrated Trump. Meanwhile, Beijing is seeking fewer American restrictions on exports of advanced semiconductor technology and chipmaking equipment.
Apart from economic issues, Trump is expected to urge China to persuade Iran to reach an agreement with Washington aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. However, experts believe Xi is unlikely to pressure Tehran aggressively or withdraw Chinese support, given Iran’s strategic importance as a counterweight to US influence.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News aboard Air Force One that Beijing also had strong economic reasons to help calm the Gulf crisis, noting that many Chinese vessels remained stranded in the region and warning that a weaker global economy would negatively affect Chinese exports.
On Wednesday, China once again voiced firm opposition to US weapons sales to Taiwan. The future of a proposed $14 billion arms package awaiting Trump’s approval remains uncertain. Despite lacking formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the United States is legally obligated to assist the island in maintaining its defence capabilities.
President Xi is tentatively expected to make a return visit to the United States later this year, which would mark his first trip to America since Trump began his second presidential term in 2025.