The United States and China agreed to strengthen their cooperative relationship at a summit in Beijing on Thursday, in a high-stakes meeting between two powers that have clashed in recent years over trade, technology, human rights and security.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping/PHOTO:X
Talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have been marked by a conciliatory tone and calls for strategic stability.
Here are the main conclusions drawn from the official statement published by the Chinese side:
1. A new formula for the US-China relationship
Xi Jinping said the two countries agreed to build a “constructive China-US relationship based on strategic stability”.
According to the Chinese leader, this new framework would guide bilateral relations in the coming years and combine cooperation with “controlled competition” where the differences between the two powers remain manageable.
Analysts say the wording suggests a period of “managed stability” aimed at avoiding an escalation of tensions that have marked the bilateral relationship in recent years.
2. Progress before the summit
Xi said preparatory talks held in South Korea on Wednesday between the two countries' economic officials had “balanced and positive” results.
The American delegation was led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and the Chinese side by Vice Premier He Lifeng.
Concrete details regarding possible commercial agreements have not been made public.
3. Call for deeper cooperation
The Chinese president called for the strengthening of diplomatic and military communication channels between Washington and Beijing.
Xi said the two states should deepen cooperation in areas such as trade, agriculture and tourism.
The comments come as both economies seek to reduce the impact of trade tensions and mutual technology restrictions.
4. Taiwan remains the most sensitive point
The Chinese leader used his strongest statements on Taiwan, which he described as “the most important issue in Sino-US relations”.
“If it is handled correctly, the bilateral relationship can continue. If it is mishandled, there is a risk of collision or conflict,” Xi Jinping warned.
The issue of Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive in the relationship between Washington and Beijing, given that China considers the island part of its territory and the US continues to provide it with military and political support.
5. Discussions also about Ukraine and the Middle East
According to the Chinese statement, the two leaders also discussed the conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
No details were provided on any possible settlements regarding these files.
Xi Jinping said Beijing wants to maintain “positive momentum” in the bilateral relationship and said China remains open to investment and economic cooperation with the United States.
The war in Iran, which has triggered a global energy crisis, was expected to take center stage in today's talks.
While flying to Beijing aboard Air Force One, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that Washington wants Beijing to take a proactive stance in resolving the conflict with Iran.
However, that topic was largely absent today, according to China's Foreign Ministry statement on the meeting between Trump and Xi.
The statement devoted sections to trade and Taiwan, but not Iran — though it noted that the two presidents had “exchanged views” on “the situation in the Middle East,” among other international issues.
The US wants China's help to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, while China has been quietly playing the role of peacemaker behind the scenes without getting involved in the conflict.
Donald Trump is accompanied to Beijing by an important business delegation, which includes leaders of major American companies, including Elon Musk and Jensen Huang. Tesla CEO Elon Musk reportedly brought his son, X Æ A-Xii, to Beijing. The two were seen walking around the Great Hall of the People.
The 6-year-old boy, nicknamed X, made another rare public appearance last year when Musk took him to a meeting with Trump at the White House.
