Trump-Xi Beijing Summit: What the two leaders agreed and disagreed upon

The opening day of the high-profile summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and United States President Donald Trump in Beijing saw the world’s two largest economies attempting to stabilise an increasingly strained bilateral relationship.

Held at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Thursday, the summit comes amid the ongoing Iran conflict which has rattled international energy markets, tensions over Taiwan, trade disputes between Washington and Beijing, and competition in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

Against that backdrop, Trump’s visit to China — the first by a sitting US president in nearly a decade — carried enormous diplomatic and economic weight.

The first day featured more than two hours of direct talks between the two leaders, discussions involving top American business executives, a symbolic cultural visit to one of Beijing’s most historic landmarks, and a lavish state banquet hosted by the Chinese leadership.

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At the centre of the talks were issues that now define US-China relations: Taiwan, trade, investment, the Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz, fentanyl flows, agricultural purchases, market access and military communication channels.

Grand welcome ceremony at Great Hall of the People

Trump’s day in Beijing began with an elaborate state reception outside the Great Hall of the People at approximately 10 AM local time.

Xi greeted the American president with a handshake before a ceremonial welcome that included a 21-gun salute and the performance of the national anthems of both countries. Hundreds of children holding flowers and flags lined the area as the two leaders walked across the square along a red carpet.

Military personnel stood in rigid formation while a military band played during the ceremony.

BBC reports from the scene described Trump as visibly impressed by the scale and precision of the display. “The military, it’s obvious, it couldn’t be better,” Trump remarked to Xi as the summit formally began.

The symbolism of the ceremony was difficult to miss. China used the occasion not only to honour the visiting US president, but also to project confidence and national strength at a time when Beijing sees itself in direct strategic competition with Washington.

As Xi accompanied Trump through the formalities, reporters and photographers stood behind crowds of children shouting, “Welcome, welcome!” while the sound of ceremonial cannon fire echoed across Tiananmen Square.

The atmosphere during the public portions of the visit appeared warm and deliberate, with both leaders exchanging broad smiles and prolonged handshakes before entering the Great Hall for closed-door discussions.

A heavyweight American delegation signalled summit priorities

Joining the US president were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and economic adviser Scott Bessent, alongside senior officials from the administration.

The delegation also included some of America’s most influential corporate leaders, highlighting the strong commercial focus of the visit. Among them were Elon Musk, Jensen Huang and Tim Cook.

Musk occupies a particularly unusual position in China. He is widely admired in sections of the Chinese technology and business community for Tesla’s success and his reputation as an innovator, but he has also drawn criticism at different points over issues linked to his politics.

Huang’s participation was especially significant given ongoing disputes over semiconductor exports and advanced AI chips.

Soon after the meetings, Reuters reported that Washington had approved around 10 Chinese firms to purchase Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence chips, although no deliveries had yet taken place.

Technology restrictions and semiconductor controls have become one of the most contentious elements of the US-China rivalry in recent years, particularly as both countries race for leadership in AI development.

The inclusion of leading CEOs also aligned with Trump’s efforts to secure commercial agreements and investment opportunities during the summit.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang separately met several US executives accompanying Trump during the visit. The meeting included Musk, Cook and Huang.

Li highlighted  the importance of maintaining dialogue and cooperation between the two countries despite global instability.

“China and the United States have been able to maintain frank and smooth dialogue and communication and actively safeguard a stable and healthy bilateral relationship” despite international turbulence, Li said.

“Collaboration is needed for ‘mutual success and shared prosperity,’” he added.

Xi also addressed American corporate leaders during the summit and said China’s opening-up policies would continue expanding.

Trump, according to Chinese state media, told Xi that US business leaders respected and valued China and that he encouraged them to deepen cooperation with the country.

Closed-door talks dominated by trade, Taiwan and global crises

The main bilateral session between Xi and Trump lasted roughly two hours and 15 minutes inside the Great Hall of the People.

Both governments later described the conversations as frank and substantive, though the official summaries issued by Washington and Beijing highlighted different aspects of the discussions.

Chinese officials highlighted the need for long-term stability and cooperation, while the White House focused heavily on economic ties, energy security and strategic coordination.

During the talks, Xi delivered an expansive message about the state of global affairs and the future of US-China relations. “Transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe, and the international situation is fluid and turbulent,” Xi said, according to Xinhua.

“Can China and the United States overcome the Thucydides Trap and create a new paradigm of major-country relations? Can we meet global challenges together and provide greater stability for the world? Can we build a bright future together for our bilateral relations in the interest of the well-being of the two peoples and the future of humanity? These are the questions vital to history, to the world and to the people,” Xi said.

“They are the questions of the times that the leaders of major countries need to answer together,” he added.

Xi repeatedly stressed his vision of a “constructive, strategic, stable relationship” between the United States and China.

“I have agreed with President Trump on a new vision of building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability,” Xi said.

According to Xi, such a relationship should include “cooperation as the mainstay,” “moderate competition,” “manageable differences” and “promises of peace.”

The Chinese president also warned that such concepts should not remain symbolic. “The building of a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability should not be a mere slogan, but concrete action taken by both sides toward the same goal,” he said.

Trade talks produce “balanced and positive outcomes”

Xi informed Trump that negotiations between Chinese and American economic teams held a day earlier in South Korea had resulted in “generally balanced and positive outcomes.”

The talks were designed to preserve the fragile trade truce reached in October after a damaging period of tariff escalation and economic confrontation.

The two countries are now attempting to establish more stable frameworks for future trade and investment discussions in order to prevent another breakdown similar to last year’s trade war.

Xi described China-US economic ties as “mutually beneficial and win-win in nature.”

“Where disagreements and frictions exist, equal-footed consultation is the only right choice,” he said.

According to Chinese officials, Xi also encouraged the United States to continue expanding cooperation with China across multiple sectors. Noting that China’s doors would continue opening wider, Xi said American businesses remain deeply involved in China’s economic transformation.

He also urged both sides to improve communication mechanisms across political, diplomatic and military channels while expanding cooperation in areas including health, agriculture, tourism, law enforcement and people-to-people exchanges.

The White House summary similarly highlighted efforts to deepen economic cooperation. According to the US readout, the leaders discussed expanding access for American firms operating in China while also increasing Chinese investment into US industries.

Trump reportedly focused on encouraging larger Chinese purchases of American agricultural products and passenger aircraft.

Agriculture has remained a politically important area for Trump domestically, particularly after the disruptions caused by earlier tariff battles between Washington and Beijing.

China’s Commerce Ministry later reinforced the message of cooperation. Spokesperson He Yongqian said Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had engaged in “candid, in-depth and constructive” exchanges during their talks in South Korea.

He said China was willing to continue expanding cooperation with the United States based on “equality, respect and mutual benefit.”

The ministry also stated that both countries would attempt to shorten their “problem list” while improving economic and trade relations.

The two leaders also discussed the issue of fentanyl precursor chemicals entering the United States from China.

According to the White House statement, both governments addressed efforts to further reduce the flow of those chemicals into the American market.

Washington additionally said both sides agreed that “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”

Beyond West Asia, Xi and Trump exchanged views on the war in Ukraine and developments on the Korean Peninsula.

Taiwan becomes the most sensitive issue of the summit

Despite the emphasis on cooperation, Taiwan emerged as the single most contentious issue during the closed-door discussions. According to China’s foreign ministry summary, Xi warned Trump directly that Taiwan represented the most critical issue in the bilateral relationship.

The Chinese president reportedly cautioned that mishandling the matter could push the two countries toward confrontation.

Xi told Trump that if the Taiwan issue was dealt with appropriately, US-China relations “will enjoy overall stability.” However, failure to manage the issue carefully could result in “clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.”

China claims the democratically governed island as part of its territory and has repeatedly opposed US military and political support for Taipei.

Tensions have risen sharply following Trump’s authorization in December of an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan — the largest such package approved for the island.

Although the United States does not formally recognise Taiwan diplomatically, American law requires Washington to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

The status of the weapons package remains unclear, with deliveries yet to move forward. Beijing has escalated  its language around Taiwan in recent months, repeatedly describing the issue as the “core” of Chinese interests.

Experts believe the tougher rhetoric reflects growing concern within China about strengthening defense ties between Washington and Taipei.

Trump did not answer reporters when asked publicly whether Taiwan had been discussed during the summit.

Iran war and Strait of Hormuz concerns

The Iran conflict has effectively closed or severely restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime energy corridors.

The White House said both leaders agreed that the strait must remain open to ensure the uninterrupted movement of energy supplies.

According to the US readout, Xi also opposed the imposition of tolls on vessels moving through the waterway.

The White House also stated that Xi expressed interest in increasing Chinese purchases of American oil as a way to reduce Beijing’s dependence on Gulf energy supplies and the unstable Strait of Hormuz route.

The Iran conflict has created significant pressure on global energy markets and has become an important foreign policy challenge for Trump.

Before arriving in Beijing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly said Washington hoped China would play a more proactive role in helping resolve the crisis and encouraging Iran to return to negotiations.

China, meanwhile, has attempted to position itself as a diplomatic intermediary while avoiding deeper involvement in the conflict.

Interestingly, Beijing’s official summary of the Xi-Trump talks gave relatively little attention to the Iran issue compared with the White House version.

Chinese statements instead focused more heavily on trade, Taiwan and broader bilateral stability, mentioning only that the leaders exchanged views on the “Middle East Situation.”

Temple of Heaven visit

Following the formal talks, Xi and Trump travelled together to Beijing’s historic Temple of Heaven, a Unesco World Heritage Site traditionally associated with imperial ceremonies and prayers for prosperity.

The site carries deep historical symbolism within Chinese culture, as emperors once visited the temple to pray for good harvests and national stability.

The visit appeared intended to reinforce themes of continuity, stability and economic prosperity amid a period of geopolitical uncertainty.

Photographs released from the visit showed the two leaders posing together at the historic complex after the morning talks.

State banquet concludes Day 1

The day concluded with a large state banquet hosted by the Chinese government at the Great Hall of the People. Senior Chinese officials, members of Trump’s Cabinet and leading executives from both countries attended the event.

Inside the hall, round tables covered with white tablecloths were arranged for the formal dinner.

The banquet represented the final major engagement of the first day before Trump’s scheduled private follow-up meeting with Xi on Friday.

Trump is expected to depart Beijing shortly after midday following the second day of discussions.

Although the summit produced no major breakthroughs on the first day, both governments appeared focused on preventing further deterioration in relations.

For Trump, the summit offers an opportunity to secure economic achievements and demonstrate active engagement on major international crises during a politically difficult period at home.

For Xi, the visit provides a platform to present China as a stable global actor while firmly defending Beijing’s core strategic interests.

With inputs from agencies