BEIJING: US President Donald Trump on Friday projected confidence after fresh talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, claiming the two sides had struck “fantastic trade deals” and made progress on issues ranging from Iran to economic cooperation, even as tensions over Taiwan loomed large over the summit.
The high-profile meeting at Zhongnanhai and the Great Hall of the People came at a delicate moment in US-China ties, with both countries trying to steady relations strained by trade disputes, technology restrictions and growing military competition in the Indo-Pacific. While the public optics of the visit centred on ceremonial warmth and economic engagement, reports from multiple US media outlets suggested serious strategic differences surfaced behind closed doors.
“We made some fantastic trade deals great for both countries,” Trump said during the visit. “We discussed Iran and want that crisis to end. We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon and want the Straits open.”
Trump also praised Xi personally, saying: “He is a great man I respect greatly.”
According to ANI, Trump and Xi spent part of the morning walking through the gardens of Zhongnanhai, the heavily guarded leadership compound of the Chinese Communist Party often described as China’s equivalent of the White House.
CNN reported that the two leaders first held a brief private interaction away from the media before continuing discussions later with smaller delegations. During the stroll, Trump admired the landscaped compound and remarked: “These are the most beautiful roses anyone has ever seen.”
Xi later told Trump that he would send rose seeds to him, according to CNN.
Taiwan warning dominates strategic talks
Despite the carefully managed symbolism, the summit was overshadowed by Beijing’s blunt warning on Taiwan.
According to reports by The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and The New York Times, Xi cautioned Trump that mishandling Taiwan could trigger “clashes and even conflicts” between the two powers.
“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” Xi reportedly told Trump during closed-door discussions.
Chinese officials framed the talks around “strategic stability”, while the White House focused publicly on trade and economic rebalancing.
Trump did not directly respond to Xi’s remarks on Taiwan in public appearances following the meeting.
Trade, Iran and AI discussions take centre stage
Trade negotiations remained central to the summit, with both sides signalling movement on economic cooperation.
According to The New York Times, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said China was expected to purchase billions of dollars worth of American agricultural goods annually over the next three years. Discussions were also held on tariff reductions involving roughly $30 billion in goods.
Trump separately claimed Xi had agreed to buy 200 Boeing aircraft and pledged not to provide military equipment to Iran, according to CNN and The New York Times.
Iran also featured prominently in the discussions.
“We want that crisis to end,” Trump said, adding that both countries agreed Iran “can never have a nuclear weapon”.
The leaders also discussed artificial intelligence cooperation. Reports said Washington and Beijing were exploring safeguards to ensure advanced AI systems do not reach “non-state actors”.
Agencies
Trump claims ‘fantastic’ US-China trade breakthroughs
