Xi Jinping tells Trump: the US and China should be partners, not rivals.

• Both Washington and Beijing risk loss from confrontation

• Both sides agree the Strait of Hormuz must remain open

China’s President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump met yesterday in Beijing and announced a “new vision” for a “constructive China‑US relationship of strategic stability,” according to an official statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The ministry said Xi urged Washington and Beijing to act as “partners, not rivals,” during the summit held in the Chinese capital.

In opening remarks at the Great Hall of the People, Xi said that China and the United States “both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation,” noting that the meeting attracted worldwide attention.

“We should help each other succeed, prosper together, and find the right way for major countries to get along in the new era,” he told reporters, as quoted by Anadolu Agency.

Xi described the current global environment as “transformations not seen in a century,” calling the international situation “fluid and turbulent” and at a “new crossroads.”

He said the two nations face “vital questions” for history, the world, and the people, including whether they can create a new paradigm of major‑country relations, jointly tackle global challenges, and provide greater stability worldwide.

“These are the questions of our times that you and I must answer as leaders of major countries,” Xi said. He added that he has always believed Beijing and Washington share more common interests than differences, and that one country’s success presents an opportunity for the other. Stable bilateral ties, he said, benefit the world.

Xi expressed eagerness for further discussions on issues important to both countries and the broader international community, and to work with Trump “to set the course for and steer the giant ship of China‑US relations,” hoping 2026 will become “a historic landmark year” that opens a “new chapter” in bilateral ties.

While the White House described the meeting as “good,” it did not mention any discussion of Taiwan, a territory China claims as part of its sovereign territory. According to the Chinese statement, Xi was direct with Trump on the issue.

“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China‑US relations. If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy,” Xi warned.

He emphasized that economic ties between the two nations are “mutually beneficial and win‑win in nature.”

“Yesterday, our economic and trade teams produced generally balanced and positive outcomes. This is good news for the people of the two countries and the world,” Xi said. On Wednesday, top Chinese and U.S. trade negotiators met in South Korea for what Beijing described as “candid, in‑depth, and constructive exchanges.”

“Facts have shown time and again that trade wars have no winner,” Xi said, stressing that “equal‑footed consultation” is the “only right choice,” and urging both sides to “jointly sustain the good momentum that they have worked hard to create.”

The two sides agreed to build a relationship of constructive strategic stability, providing guidance for ties over the next three years and beyond. Xi said this would be welcomed by “the people of both countries, as well as the international community.”

Trump was accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and executives from major U.S. companies, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg, Cargill’s Brian Sikes, Citigroup’s Jane Fraser, GE Aerospace’s Larry Culp, Goldman Sachs’s David Solomon, Micron’s Sanjay Mehrotra, and Qualcomm’s Cristiano Amon.

After their meeting at the Great Hall, Xi escorted Trump to the Temple of Heaven, where they posed for a photo in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. “Incredible, beautiful,” Trump said of China when asked about the visit.

The White House concluded that Trump “had a good meeting with President Xi.”

“The two sides discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation between our two countries, including expanding market access for American businesses into China and increasing Chinese investment into our industries,” the statement added.

Xi and Trump also agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open for the free flow of energy, and that Iran should not possess a nuclear weapon.