President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping publicly highlighted their personal friendship and outlined talks on trade, security and super intelligence as Xi made his first visit to the White House in more than a decade.
In remarks from the White House Grand Foyer, Trump described a long-standing personal relationship with the Chinese leader:
“From the time of my first election in 2016, President Xi and I have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually, built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people,” Trump said.
He pointed to progress on trade since his May visit to Beijing and said the two sides would discuss pressing issues concerning security, technology, and ‘super intelligence’:
“The decisions we make in these areas today can promote peace and prosperity for decades and decades to come,” Trump added.
Earlier Thursday on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “A big day with President Xi of China. Super Intelligence (SI) will be a big topic of discussion, but I want to leave it exactly where it is. That is China’s position also. Our guardrail is the DOJ!”
Xi, speaking after Trump, returned the emphasis on mutual respect and stability.
“President Trump and I have respect for each other. We have built personal rapport and stayed in touch,” Xi said. He noted that during Trump’s visit to China earlier this year the two leaders had agreed to build “a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.”
“I am ready to work with you to steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relationship on a steady course toward the future,” Xi said.
On competition, Xi stated: “We do not need to avoid mentioning competition, but our competition should be a healthy one and should be kept within bounds. It should be a race of catching up with one another, not a wrestle in which one either wins or loses. China and the United States must hold the line of no conflict and no confrontation between us… The Thucydides Trap can be overcome.”
Addressing artificial intelligence, Xi said both countries “have both the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good, and ensure that the development of AI is always under human control and serves the well-being of the people.”
Xi announced that China will invite 100,000 young Americans to visit for exchanges and study over the next five years and that two pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, will soon arrive at Zoo Atlanta. Xi also said China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the United States on counternarcotics and law enforcement. He added that the two countries could increase direct flights to facilitate two-way travel and trade.
The leaders’ public remarks framed the day’s closed-door talks around trade, security, technology and AI, with Trump signaling he prefers no new heavy regulation on the latter. A trade truce that paused elevated tariffs had already been extended to January 10, 2027, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Source: Readout from The Ministry of Foreign Affairs – People’s Republic of China
