Trump, Xi call for improving US-China ties; Taiwan a major sticking point

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping called for better ties between the world’s largest economies, as the two began a closely-watched summit in Beijing on Thursday.

China’s Xi said the Taiwan question was the most important issue in U.S.-China relations, and warned that the two countries could clash and even enter conflicts over the matter, if it was handled improperly.

Trump had earlier this week said he would raise the issue of arm sales to Taiwan with Xi. China has long laid claim to Taiwan as its own territory, and has warned against U.S. interference.

Chinese state media reported that the Trump-Xi meeting concluded after 2 hours and 15 minutes, and that the Chinese president was now interacting with U.S. business leaders.

Trump and Xi were later seen arriving at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing by Thursday afternoon.

In opening remarks before Thursday’s talks, Xi called for China and the U.S. to be “partners, not rivals,” and that common interests far outweighed their differences. Xi also called for making 2026 a historic year of renewal in U.S.-China ties.

Trump described Xi as a great leader, and said the relationship between the U.S. and China will be “better than ever before.” Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday with a cadre of major U.S. business leaders.

The trip marks the first Chinese state visit by a U.S. leader in nearly a decade, with Trump having last visited Beijing shortly after the beginning of his first term.

U.S.-China talks come amid strained ties between the two countries, especially after a bitter trade war through most of 2025 and continued disagreements over artificial intelligence chips.

Trump’s addition of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to his Chinese trip spurred some hopes for looser restrictions on U.S. chip sales to China. Trump had before his trip said he would ask Xi to “open up” China to U.S. business.

Talks are also expected to cover the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran, which has disrupted oil flows to much of Asia, including China.

U.S. Treasury ‌Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met in South Korea on Wednesday to lay the groundwork for Thursday’s talks.