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US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing to an elaborate state reception on Thursday as he began pivotal talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid rising geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and growing scrutiny over America’s standing on the global stage.
The two leaders met at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, where Trump was welcomed with military honours, a 21-gun salute and a ceremony featuring Chinese schoolchildren waving American and Chinese flags as military bands performed both national anthems.
Xi personally greeted Trump on the red carpet outside the imposing state venue before the pair walked together past rows of honour guards in one of the most symbolically significant diplomatic encounters between Washington and Beijing in recent years.
Ahead of the meeting, Trump struck an optimistic tone about bilateral ties.
“I have a fantastic relationship” with Xi, Reuters reported Trump saying on Thursday, adding that he believed relations between the two countries were “going to be better than ever”.
Xi, in opening remarks before formal talks began, sought to frame the summit as a defining moment in relations between the world’s two largest economies.
“I have always believed that the common interests between China and the United States outweigh the differences,” Xi said.
“The success of China and the U.S. is an opportunity for each other.”
“The stability of Sino-U.S. relations is a good thing for the world.”
“I’m looking forward to exchanging views on major issues.”
“Let 2026 be a historic and landmark year for Sino-U.S. relations to carry on the past and open up the future.”
The highly choreographed summit comes at a difficult political moment for Trump, whose approval ratings have been weakened by the costly and increasingly unpopular conflict involving Iran and Israel, as well as growing domestic concerns over inflation and economic stability.
Analysts say the balance of power between Washington and Beijing has shifted markedly since Trump’s previous visit to China in 2017.
Ali Wyne, senior adviser for US-China relations at the International Crisis Group, said Beijing no longer appeared eager to prove itself to Washington in the same manner it once did.
“China was trying to persuade the United States of its growing status,” Wyne said.
“This time around it’s the United States, unprompted, of its own volition, that is acknowledging that status.”
The summit is expected to focus heavily on preserving a fragile trade truce reached last October, under which Trump suspended punitive triple-digit tariffs on Chinese imports while Beijing eased restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals crucial to industries ranging from electric vehicles to advanced weapons systems.
Trump is accompanied by several prominent American business leaders, including Elon Musk and Jensen Huang, as Washington pushes for broader access to Chinese markets and increased purchases of American goods including aircraft, energy and agricultural products.
The United States is also seeking greater Chinese cooperation in resolving the Iran conflict, with Trump expected to urge Xi to pressure Tehran into accepting a settlement with Washington.
However, analysts believe Beijing is unlikely to significantly distance itself from Iran, which China views as an important strategic counterweight to American influence in the Middle East.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was in China’s own economic interest to help stabilise the region.
“It was in China’s interest to help resolve the crisis,” Rubio told Fox News aboard Air Force One, noting that many Chinese vessels remained stranded in Gulf waters and that prolonged instability would damage Chinese exports.
Taiwan is also expected to dominate discussions behind closed doors.
Beijing has strongly opposed proposed American arms sales to Taiwan, including a US$14 billion package reportedly awaiting Trump’s approval. China considers the self-governing island part of its territory, while the United States remains legally bound to provide Taiwan with defensive support despite lacking formal diplomatic ties.
Ronan Fu, an assistant research fellow at Academia Sinica, said Trump may have fewer strategic advantages entering the talks than during his first presidency.
“Trump doesn’t really have that many of the cards to play,” Fu said.
“But I don’t think that Trump actually sees the situation that way.”
“I don’t think that Trump is going to just let Beijing basically ask for whatever they want and then the US will make any concession that Beijing requests.”
The two-day summit is expected to include extended talks at the Great Hall of the People, a tour of Beijing’s historic Temple of Heaven and a formal state banquet before further private discussions over tea and lunch on Friday.
Xi is also expected to make a reciprocal visit to the United States later this year, which would mark his first trip to America since Trump returned to office in 2025. - May 14, 2026
