Fanfare surrounds Trump-Xi summit at White House, but no breakthroughs expected
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday for a lavish state summit that was heavy on symbolism but light on substance, with no sign that a closed-door meeting yielded breakthroughs on thorny issues such as AI, trade, Taiwan and the war with Iran.
Summit marks Xi Jinping's first visit to Washington in more than a decade
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U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday for a lavish state summit that was heavy on symbolism but light on substance, with no sign that a closed-door meeting yielded breakthroughs on thorny issues such as AI, trade, Taiwan and the war with Iran.
During a bilateral discussion in the afternoon, Xi urged the U.S. to oppose "Taiwan independence," according to a readout from the official Chinese news agency Xinhua shortly after it concluded. The White House did not immediately provide its own summary of the talks.
Xi had been expected to press Trump this week to halt arms sales to Taiwan. Following his visit to China in May, Trump said he was holding in abeyance an arms package to Taiwan worth some $14 billion US and called it a "very good negotiating chip."
That move left some U.S. allies in Asia and even some of Trump's fellow Republicans concerned that he may be tempted to soften Washington's support for Taipei in exchange for economic wins. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out using force to gain control over the island.
WATCH | Trump welcomes Xi to the White House:
Trump welcomes Chinese president to White House for state visit
7 hours ago|
Duration
11:01
U.S. President Donald Trump is hosting President Xi Jinping for a U.S.-China summit to navigate trade tensions and artificial intelligence. This meeting marks the first time in over a decade that Xi has visited Washington.The summit between the two leaders came shortly after Trump forcefully defended his use of military power in a speech at the UN earlier this week, suggesting he could "annihilate" Iran.
Trump took a strikingly different tone with Xi on Thursday, reflecting a power balance that has shifted toward the Chinese leader after a trade war that ended with a U.S. climbdown on tariffs.
Trump touts 'truly great friendship'
In remarks after Xi's arrival on Thursday, Trump emphasized his "truly great friendship" with Xi, rather than focusing on policy differences, and said the two powers had made strides on trade since his trip to China in May.
"During this visit, we will also discuss pressing issues concerning security, technology and 'super intelligence,'" Trump said, using his alternative name for artificial intelligence.
In somewhat more pointed remarks, Xi said the two countries' interests were deeply intertwined and that competition between them should be a "healthy one." U.S. companies were welcome in China, he said, adding that he hopes "Chinese companies are treated fairly here in the United States."
Xi also said both militaries should maintain regular dialogue to improve crisis prevention.
U.S.-China summit highlights the 'hypocrisy' of American trade policy, experts say
Trump greets Xi on tarmac as Chinese leader arrives for state visit
Edgard Kagan, a former senior White House official for East Asia, said the contrasting rhetoric demonstrates the different strategy of each leader.
"The president is casting it very much as about his personal relationship with Xi," said Kagan, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "What I found interesting was Xi is being much more cautious and suggesting that it's less about the personal relationship than the national relationship."
The summit, Xi's first visit to Washington in more than a decade, is the second meeting this year between the leaders of the world's two biggest economies.
Remarks not shown live on U.S. TV networks
For Trump, who relishes ceremony and prizes his ties with powerful leaders, the visit is as much a matter of national prestige as an opportunity for high-stakes diplomacy.
WATCH | Judge blocks Trump's ban of certain news outlets from White House:
Some reporters return to White House after judge blocks Trump's media ban
6 hours ago|
Duration
3:57
A federal judge has blocked U.S. President Donald Trump's move to ban three news outlets from the White House grounds, in a ruling early Thursday. Reporters for CNN, MS NOW and Politico were initially denied entry to the White House compound after the court order came down, but some reporters were allowed in around noon.But Trump and Xi's remarks were not carried live by any U.S. television networks, which refused to provide footage in protest of the White House's ban of CNN, MS Now and Politico.
Following their remarks on Thursday, the two leaders observed a military ceremony including a flyover at the Rose Garden. After their closed-door meeting, Trump gave Xi a tour of the new helipad he had recently constructed on the White House's South Lawn.
"He loves good granite," Trump told reporters, adding that the two men had a "great meeting" without elaborating.
Trump's embrace of Xi could complicate his campaign message at home ahead of November's midterm elections, when Republicans' narrow congressional majorities are at stake as voters fret about inflation and the war on Iran.
The president for months has labelled Democrats "communists" in an effort to paint them as too extreme, but he welcomed Xi, the head of the Chinese Communist Party, as a dear personal friend, with Chinese flags adorning the roof above the Oval Office alongside U.S. flags.
Discussion of AI
Despite the fanfare, major breakthroughs appeared unlikely, analysts said.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Wednesday after talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng that they had agreed to extend until Jan. 10 an agreement pausing their trade war.
'Nuclear' threat or market boom? Either way, AI race looms over Trump-Xi talks
Trump decries critics of AI, saying they're 'negative forces' with exaggerated concerns
Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Thursday morning that the two leaders would discuss "super intelligence" but again indicated little interest in new regulations, despite concerns from industry leaders that AI could eventually pose a threat to humans.
"Super Intelligence (SI) will be a big topic of discussion, but I want to leave it exactly where it is," Trump wrote. "That is China's position also."
During his comments on Thursday, Xi said both countries must "ensure that the development of AI is always under human control."
Analysts say intense competition between the two powers in AI is likely to limit the scope for anything beyond symbolic agreements.
People familiar with the plans say the talks could also yield deals to lower some tariffs, combat drug trafficking and expand military-to-military dialogue, while Trump is expected to seek the release of Americans and others detained in China.
Xi in strong position
Xi appears to be in a stronger position, having overseen a surge in China's trade and firmly in control of supplies of rare earth minerals that give him powerful leverage.
Both leaders see advantages in keeping relations stable, with Trump mired in the unpopular Iran war and Xi grappling with domestic economic challenges.
But beneath the surface are challenges that could reignite tensions, including disputes over Taiwan, export controls, AI and the war with Iran, a Chinese ally.
There has been little sign Beijing is willing to exert pressure on Iran to yield to U.S. demands. During Thursday's meeting, Xi expressed support for the U.S. and Iran to return to a ceasefire and eventually negotiate a peace deal, Xinhua reported.
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