(4th LD) Trump-Xi-summit
(4th LD) Trump, Xi signal desire to manage bilateral ties but reaffirm positions on Taiwan, trade
(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in paras 20-23; ADDS photo)
By Song Sang-ho
BEIJING, May 14 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping signaled their desire to stably manage relations between the two superpowers but staked out their positions on Taiwan, trade and other key issues during a high-stakes summit in Beijing on Thursday.
During the meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Trump voiced optimism over the future of the bilateral relationship, while Xi stressed the importance of Sino-U.S. cooperation, saying that the two countries should be "partners, not rivals."
However, Xi warned that if the issue of Taiwan -- the self-governing democracy China regards as part of its territory -- is not handled properly, the two countries could "clash," according to Xinhua News Agency. Trump doubled down on his administration's demand for "reciprocity" in bilateral trade.
Trump arrived in the Chinese capital Wednesday evening for a three-day visit, marking his first trip to China since November 2017. He and Xi last met in person in Busan, South Korea, in late October on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026, in this photo released by Reuters. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
"It's an honor to be with you. It's an honor to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before," Trump said in his opening remarks.
The American president also said that he and Xi had known each other for a long time and have had a "fantastic" relationship, while pointing out that whenever the two countries faced difficulties, the two leaders "worked it out very quickly."
"We are going to have a fantastic future," he said.
Trump praised Xi as a "great leader," and highlighted that he was being accompanied by the "greatest" and "best" American business delegation.
"They look forward to trade and doing business, and it's going to be totally reciprocal on our behalf," he said.
Xi said that a "stable" Sino-U.S. relationship is "good for the world," expressing his belief that the two countries have more common interests than differences.
"China and the United States both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation," he said in his remarks translated through an interpreter.
"We should be partners, not rivals. We should help each other succeed and prosper together, and find the right way for major countries to get along well with each other in the new era," he added.
Xi told Trump that the Taiwan question is the "most important issue" in U.S.-China relations and that if it is not handled properly, the two countries will have clashes and even "conflicts," putting the entire relationship "in great jeopardy," according to Xinhua.
Xi also posed a question about whether the U.S. and China can overcome the "Thucydides Trap" -- a term describing the high risk of conflict between an emerging power and an established power due to structural stress.
The question apparently reflected Xi's hope for the U.S. to recognize China as an equal superpower, observers said, as the Sino-U.S. relationship remains beset by a deepening strategic competition in trade, security and technological leadership.
Prior to their meeting, Trump received a ceremonial welcome marked by a handshake between the two leaders, the performance of national anthems by a military band, an inspection of an honor guard and greetings by young children waving flowers, as well as U.S. and Chinese flags.
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping inspect a guard of honor during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026, in this photo released by Reuters. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran was also expected to figure prominently at the summit, as Trump seeks an exit from the war and to secure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for oil, fertilizer and other key commodities.
China itself has been apprehensive about the ongoing war, as disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz could imperil its energy supplies. China has sought to shift to alternative energy sources and maintains large oil stockpiles, but the conflict has raised longer-term economic risks for the world's second-largest economy.
Following their talks, the two leaders visited the Temple of Heaven, an imperial complex, and were set to attend a state banquet later in the day.
At the Temple of Heaven, Trump responded "great" when asked by a reporter how his talks with Xi went.
"Great place. Incredible. China's beautiful," he said, according to a White House pool report.
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) stands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on May 14, 2026, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)
In Beijing, Trump was accompanied by a delegation of prominent U.S. business leaders, reflecting his focus on the economic relationship with China.
They included SpaceX and Tesla's Elon Musk, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, Boeing's Kelly Ortberg, Apple's Tim Cook, Micron Technology's Sanjay Mehrotra, Qualcomm's Cristiano Amon and Goldman Sachs' David Solomon.
On Friday, the two leaders will have tea and a working luncheon before Trump heads back home.
This week's summit is the first in a series of possible bilateral talks between Trump and Xi this year, including meetings on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, in November and the Group of 20 gathering in Florida in December.
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