Xi Tells Trump US and China Should Be Partners, Not Rivals

The two leaders met in Beijing on Wednesday for high-stakes talks covering trade, economic cooperation, and Iran, with security locked down across the capital ahead of the summit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Donald Trump that the US and China should be partners, not rivals, during face-to-face talks in Beijing.
The meeting followed an earlier Chinese warning over Taiwan, raising the stakes ahead of the summit.
Discussions covered trade disputes, economic cooperation, and Iran's nuclear programme.
Beijing placed heightened security across the city in advance of the two leaders' arrival.
No joint statement had been issued as of Wednesday afternoon local time.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Donald Trump on Wednesday that the United States and China “should be partners, not rivals,” as the two leaders sat down in Beijing for their first face-to-face summit in months.

The meeting came hours after Beijing issued a pointed warning over Taiwan, a signal that China intended to press its core demands even as it welcomed the US president.

Talks spanned trade, broader economic cooperation, and Iran's nuclear programme, according to reports from the summit. No dollar figures or formal agreements had been announced as of Wednesday afternoon local time.

Security in Beijing was locked down ahead of the visit, with large sections of the city centre sealed off and uniformed personnel deployed at key routes.

The two governments have been locked in a damaging tariff exchange that has rattled global markets since early 2025. Wednesday's talks mark the most senior direct contact between Washington and Beijing since that dispute escalated.

White House and State Department officials are expected to brief reporters on outcomes later Wednesday. A formal readout from Beijing is anticipated by Thursday morning local time.