Xi Jinping and Trump Hold High-Stakes Beijing Talks

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Xi Jinping held talks with US President Donald Trump on the morning of May 14 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, during the American leader’s state visit to China.

Xi said that amid accelerating changes unseen in a century and an increasingly unstable international environment, China and the United States face critical questions: whether the two countries can overcome the “Thucydides Trap” and open a new model of great power relations; whether they can jointly respond to global challenges and bring greater stability to the world; and whether, in the interests of the peoples of both countries and the future of humanity, they can together create a better future for China-US relations.

He stressed that these are questions of history, peace, and the peoples of the world, and an epochal test that major powers must answer together. Xi said he is ready to work with Donald Trump to steadily steer the “giant ship” of China-US relations, so that 2026 becomes a historic and landmark year of continuity and renewal in bilateral ties.

Xi emphasized that China remains committed to the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of relations with the United States. According to him, he and Trump agreed to define a new positioning for bilateral ties as “constructive, strategically stable relations between China and the United States,” which would serve as a strategic guide for the next three years and beyond and would be welcomed by the peoples of both countries and the international community.

He stated that “constructive strategic stability” should mean: positive stability based primarily on cooperation; healthy stability under controlled competition; resilient stability with managed differences; and long-term stability ensuring a peaceful outlook.

“Constructive, strategically stable China-US relations are not a slogan but concrete actions moving toward each other,” Xi said.

The Chinese leader also noted that the essence of China-US trade and economic relations lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. Faced with differences and frictions, equal consultation remains the only correct path forward. He said that economic teams from both countries had recently achieved broadly balanced and positive outcomes, which is good news for both nations and the world.

Xi said both sides should maintain the current positive momentum. He noted that China’s doors will open even wider, and US companies are already deeply involved in China’s reform and opening-up process. China welcomes strengthened mutually beneficial cooperation with the United States.

According to Xi, both sides should implement previously reached agreements and make better use of political, diplomatic, and military communication channels, while expanding cooperation in economy and trade, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, people-to-people exchanges, and law enforcement.

Xi stressed that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations.

If it is properly handled, bilateral ties can remain generally stable. If not, confrontation and even conflict could occur, placing relations in an extremely dangerous situation.

He said “Taiwan independence” is incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and maintaining peace and stability in the region is the greatest shared interest of China and the United States. China urged the US to approach the Taiwan question with the utmost caution.

Donald Trump, in turn, said it was an honor to visit China on a state visit. He said US-China relations are in good condition and that he has had the longest and best relationship with Xi Jinping among all his contacts with Chinese leaders.

Trump said the two sides maintain friendly communication and have resolved many important issues. He called Xi a great leader and China a great country, expressing deep respect for the Chinese president and the Chinese people.

The US president said the meeting attracted global attention. He said he was ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with Xi, properly manage differences, open the “best-ever” US-China relationship, and create a better future for both countries.

Trump stressed that the United States and China are the most important and powerful countries in the world, and their cooperation can produce significant benefits for both sides and the world.

He also said his accompanying delegation included prominent representatives of the US business community who highly value China and seek to expand cooperation.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the Middle East, the Ukraine crisis, the Korean Peninsula issue, and other major international and regional topics.

The sides agreed to support the holding of informal APEC leaders’ meetings and a G20 summit this year.

Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a ceremonial welcome for Trump at the eastern square of the Great Hall of the People. Upon arrival, a guard of honor was assembled. The two leaders reviewed the honor guard, the military band played the national anthems of China and the United States, and a 21-gun salute was fired at Tiananmen Square.

Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Donald Trump inspected the People’s Liberation Army honor guard and observed the parade.