US-China ties enter new phase as Trump meets Xi in Beijing

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping began two days of talks in Beijing on Thursday as both sides sought to make progress on trade and economic cooperation while trying to manage rising geopolitical tensions.

Xi welcomed Trump to the Great Hall of the People during a formal state ceremony attended by military dignitaries, trade delegations and senior cabinet officials from both countries.

In remarks during the opening session, Xi said cooperation between Beijing and Washington would benefit global stability, adding that the two powers should “become partners, not rivals”.

Trump praised Xi Jinping and called the summit “possibly one of the most important meetings between the two countries in recent years”. He also expressed hope that bilateral ties would improve further during his current term.

The summit came amid unresolved disputes over tariffs, technology competition, Taiwan and strategic influence in Asia. The two leaders are expected to discuss extending a temporary tariff truce reached during their previous meeting in South Korea.

Trade tensions between the United States and China escalated last year when both countries imposed heavy tariffs on each other’s goods, disrupting global markets and supply chains.

Taiwan is another major source of friction. Chinese state media quoted Xi as warning that mishandling the Taiwan issue could seriously damage bilateral relations and increase the risk of conflict.

The ongoing dispute with Iran is also expected to feature prominently in the talks. Washington has urged Beijing to play a more active diplomatic role because China is one of the largest buyers of Iranian oil exports.

Trump’s delegation includes several top American business executives, including Elon Musk, Jensen Huang and Tim Cook, who underscore the economic importance of the visit.

In a move seen as a positive signal ahead of the talks, China renewed export licenses for hundreds of American beef processing facilities that had previously expired.

Analysts believe that both governments want to prevent further deterioration in relations by securing limited agreements on trade and investment, even as the strategic competition between the two countries deepens.