Trump and Xi Meet in Beijing
BEIJING – President Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday, marking the start of an important summit between two of the world’s most influential leaders.
Standing together outside the Great Hall of the People, which towers over Tiananmen Square, both leaders were welcomed with a grand ceremony.
This was their seventh meeting and the first time they had convened in China since November 2017.
After the handshake, they walked down the red carpet, greeting their respective delegations at the top of the Great Hall’s steps.
Xi exchanged handshakes with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and several other officials, including Trump’s son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law Lara.
Excited schoolchildren celebrated the occasion, jumping with joy and waving bouquets, alongside U.S. and Chinese flags.
“Those kids were amazing,” Trump remarked to Xi during the ceremony.
Later, both leaders took their places at a prominent podium as a Chinese military band performed the Star-Spangled Banner.
Trump saluted as cannons fired in Tiananmen Square, followed by the Chinese national anthem.
At the podium, they took part in a ceremonial viewing, inspecting honor guards in various ceremonial uniforms.
Experts highlighted a notable shift in the rapport between Trump and Xi since Trump’s last visit in 2017.
“The trust between them has changed,” commented Isabel Vladuiu, an expert in business etiquette. “This ceremony felt more personal and inviting compared to the more formal exchanges back then.” Vladuiu added that Xi appeared more engaged than usual.
The summit’s bilateral discussions were expected to last around two hours inside the Great Hall.
At the meeting’s outset, Trump expressed honor in meeting Xi, emphasizing their friendship and the potential for a stronger U.S.-China relationship.
He mentioned bringing “the greatest businessmen” along for the trip, saying, “All I wanted was the top. They’re here today to pay tribute to you and to China, and to look forward to trade and business. It’s going to be mutually beneficial for us.”
“I’m really looking forward to our discussions,” he said, noting, “some say this will probably be the biggest summit in history.”
Accompanying Trump were high-profile CEOs like Elon Musk from SpaceX and Tesla, Tim Cook from Apple, and Jensen Huang from Nvidia. Trump promised to address Xi’s request to “open up” China to U.S. business.
Despite recent tensions — including tariffs imposed by Trump and restrictions on exports — the two leaders were expected to make strides toward easing some of the ongoing trade disputes.
Additionally, key topics during the meetings included artificial intelligence, nuclear weapons, and human rights, especially concerning cases like that of Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy journalist in Hong Kong.
Trump also planned to address issues related to the Iran conflict.
“China is stranding ships in the Persian Gulf,” Rubio remarked in anticipation of the discussions. “We hope to persuade them to be more proactive in getting Iran to adjust its actions in that region.”
Some lawmakers expressed concern over China’s support for Iran, but Trump remained mostly unconcerned about these allegations, downplaying them in conversations with reporters.
Meanwhile, Xi might pressure Trump to reconsider U.S. support for Taiwan, a long-standing issue of contention.
Following the bilateral talks, Trump will return to his hotel and later visit the Great Wall for a state dinner with Xi.
This visit, previously postponed, signifies an important step in U.S.-China relations, following ongoing conflicts like the war with Iran.
At the airport in Beijing, Trump received a warm welcome from Ambassador David Perdue and other officials, as a military band played and children sang, each waving flags.
Trump cheerfully greeted the crowd with his signature fist pump.
