Trump and Xi Hold High-Stakes Talks in Beijing

Two of the world’s most powerful leaders sat face-to-face in Beijing on Thursday and both men sounded optimistic.

A formal meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials, featuring two flags in the background, with a floral arrangement in the center of the table. — US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands at the start of formal summit talks inside the Great Hall of the People, Beijing May 14, 2026. (Photo: AP Photo / Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump and Xi Meet at the Great Hall of the People

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off formal talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. China Central Television confirmed the summit was underway. Before negotiations began, Trump received a ceremonial welcome complete with an honor guard and a military orchestra at the eastern entrance of the hall.

Xi Urges Partnership Over Rivalry

Xi opened with a pointed message about the nature of the two nations’ relationship. “Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both we should be partners, not rivals,” he said. Xi added that the shared interests between the two countries outweigh their differences. He also described 2026 as a year that should go down in history as significant for US-China bilateral ties.

Trump Calls the Visit an “Honor” — Predicts a Bright Future

Trump thanked his Chinese counterpart for the warm reception and called the visit an honor. He spoke candidly about how the two leaders had handled past tensions. “We always found a way through when problems came up, we solved them quickly. People didn’t even know about it,” Trump said. “A fantastic shared future is ahead of us. Relations between China and the United States will be better than ever.” Trump also stressed that the US intends to do business with China on a fully mutual basis.

A Packed Agenda: Iran, Energy, and Taiwan on the Table

Trump had signaled before departure that he wanted productive results from the trip. He planned to hold extended talks with Xi covering Iran’s situation, energy cooperation, and the sensitive question of future US arms sales to Taiwan. China’s Foreign Ministry, for its part, said the two leaders would also focus on global peace and development. After the talks wrap up, the two leaders are set to attend a state banquet at 6:00 PM. Trump’s state visit to China runs from May 13 to 15.