Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump during a choreographed state visit to Beijing that differences over Taiwan risk sparking clashes between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump arrived to full protocol at the Great Hall of the People — an honor guard and children waving Chinese and American flags — and made upbeat opening remarks, saying the bilateral relationship would improve and inviting Xi to visit the United States in September. Xi said China sought to build a “relationship of strategic stability” with the U.S.
At the summit Xi placed Taiwan at the center of the talks, calling it “the most important issue” between the countries. He reiterated Beijing’s long-standing position that Taiwan is part of China, noted that Beijing has not renounced the use of force to achieve unification, and cautioned Washington to handle the question with “extra caution.” Xi warned that improper handling could produce “clashes and even conflicts,” jeopardizing the broader U.S.-China relationship, and described “Taiwan independence” and cross‑Strait peace as “irreconcilable as fire and water.” He said safeguarding stability in the Taiwan Strait is a major mutual interest.
Taiwan, a self-governing island that China claims as its own territory, has long been a point of friction. The U.S. continues arms sales to Taipei while maintaining a policy of strategic ambiguity about whether it would militarily defend the island. Taipei’s government expressed appreciation for U.S. support after Xi’s remarks; Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee thanked Washington for its clear backing.
The White House described the meeting as “good” in a brief readout that did not dwell on Taiwan and was vague about concrete agreements. The statement said the two sides explored ways to deepen economic cooperation, including expanding U.S. market access to China and encouraging Chinese investment in American industries. Fentanyl and Chinese purchases of agricultural goods were also discussed.
Analysts say the visit is unlikely to produce sweeping policy changes and instead appears aimed at repairing trust and preserving the relative stability achieved when Trump and Xi met at an APEC summit last year. That earlier encounter helped quiet a protracted trade war that saw high U.S. tariffs and Chinese restrictions on strategic exports like rare earths.
Xi urged cooperation, saying common interests outweigh differences and that both sides benefit from cooperation while suffering from confrontation. Trump and Xi toured Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, and trade issues such as soybeans — which became a flashpoint in 2025 when China reduced purchases and U.S. farmers were hit hard — were on the agenda. U.S. officials signaled the possibility of announcements on agricultural and aircraft purchases that would appeal to Trump’s interest in dealmaking.
The leaders also touched on broader geopolitical matters. According to the White House, they spoke about the Middle East and the war in Ukraine; outside analysts noted both capitals want to reduce escalation and wider fallout from recent regional conflicts. Xi and Trump reportedly agreed the Strait of Hormuz — a critical waterway for global energy shipments — must remain open.
A group of roughly a dozen top U.S. executives accompanied the president, including Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook and NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang. Chinese state media quoted Xi telling the business delegation that U.S. companies were helping China’s economic opening and reform, and that “the door to China for U.S. business would only get wider.” Trump described the tone as reciprocal and forward-looking.
The state visit included a banquet, a tour of the Chinese Communist Party compound, and a working lunch between the two leaders. It was scheduled to conclude the following day after additional meetings and discussions.