U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have commenced their high-stakes summit in Beijing, with Xi expressing hope that their discussions can herald a "new chapter" in bilateral relations. The formal welcome ceremony featured a gun salute, military display, and the playing of national anthems following a handshake between the two leaders. They then proceeded with their delegations to the Great Hall of the People for closed-door talks scheduled for most of Thursday.
Rubio Highlights China as Top Political Challenge
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanying Trump in Beijing, stated that China is "our top political challenge." In a Fox News interview, Rubio described the U.S.-China relationship as the "most important" to manage. "We're going to have interests of ours that are going to be in conflict with interests of theirs; to avoid wars and maintain peace and stability in the world, we're gonna have to manage those," he added.
Trump and Xi's Schedule
Following their official meeting, Trump and Xi are scheduled to tour the historic Temple of Heaven, a 15th-century complex, before attending a state banquet. Trump repeatedly emphasized his personal rapport with Xi, calling the summit the "biggest summit ever" and stating that the relationship between China and the USA "is going to be better than ever before." He expressed admiration for the crowds of children who greeted him, describing them as "happy" and "beautiful."
Contrasting Views on Iran
Rubio and Trump offered differing perspectives on discussions regarding Iran during the China visit. Rubio indicated that administration officials would stress that "economies are melting down because of [the Iran] crisis," leading consumers to "buying less Chinese product." He expressed hope to convince China to play a more active role in persuading Iran to de-escalate tensions in the Persian Gulf. In contrast, Trump downplayed the significance of Iran as a topic, stating, "I wouldn't say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control."
Xi's Opening Remarks
Xi opened the meeting by posing key questions, including whether the U.S. and China can "overcome the Thucydides trap," a term coined by political scientist Graham Allison describing the tendency toward war between a rising power and an existing great power. Xi emphasized that "the whole world is watching our meeting" and that "a transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe." He called for partnership over rivalry, stating, "We should be partners and not rivals. We should help each other succeed and prosper together."
Full List of U.S. Presidents Who Have Visited China
- Richard Nixon in 1972
- Gerald R. Ford in 1975
- Ronald Reagan in 1984
- George H.W. Bush in 1989
- Bill Clinton in 1998
- George W. Bush in 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2008
- Barack Obama in 2009, 2014, and 2016
- Donald Trump in 2017 and 2026
Trump's visit marks his second trip to China as president, following his 2017 visit. The summit is seen as a critical moment for U.S.-China relations amid ongoing trade tensions and geopolitical challenges.
