President Donald Trump reportedly invited his Chinese counterpart, genocidal dictator Xi Jinping, to visit the White House in September during a banquet in Beijing on Thursday.
Trump is currently in the Chinese capital for a state visit, the first during his second term in office and the first by a US president in nearly a decade. An elaborate welcome ceremony was held upon his arrival on Wednesday, which included hundreds of chanting children, a huge red carpet and full military honours. On Thursday, Xi, Trump and their teams convened in the capital for extended discussions on multi-interest issues and the heads of state used their opening remarks to praise each other.
Speaking before the private exchange between their teams, Trump described his friendship with Xi as the longest established relationship between a Chinese and American leader. He called the dictator a “great leader” and expressed optimism for bilateral relations.
Trump said, “I am honored to have this relationship.”
“Our relationship has been wonderful. We have been together, whenever there were difficulties, we have solved them,” he said. “I would call you and you would call me and, whenever we had a problem – people don’t know – we solved it very quickly.”
“We’re going to build a wonderful future together,” the US president predicted, adding that he “has great respect for China for the work you’ve done.” You are a great leader.”
Xi’s comments did not contain the same personal praise, but instead emphasized that resolving the conflict between Washington and Beijing was beneficial to the world and hoped Trump would be a reliable partner for the Communist Party in the “new era,” a term the dictator regularly uses for Chinese global hegemony after Mao.
“At present, changes not seen in a century are accelerating across the world and the international situation is unstable and turbulent,” Xi suggested while congratulating on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Xi said, “I always believe that our two countries have more common interests than differences. Success in one is an opportunity for the other and a stable bilateral relationship is good for the world.” “Both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. We must be partners, not rivals, helping each other succeed and prosper together.”
After their meeting, the two leaders visited the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Chinese state propaganda outlet Global Times Xi described offering Trump a tour and explaining the significance of the temple, a place where in ancient times “Chinese rulers prayed for national prosperity, social harmony and favorable weather for good harvests”.
“This reflects the traditional Chinese concept that the people are the foundation of a state and only when the foundation is solid will the state be stable,” Global Times Xi was quoted as saying.
The day concluded with a state banquet in Trump’s honor, where he reportedly invited Xi to visit the US on September 24. Trump offered a toast celebrating Chinese-American relations.
“Chinese workers helped lay rail tracks connecting our Atlantic coast to the Pacific Ocean,” the president reportedly said. “American travelers to China helped spread literacy and modern medicine, and at the request of the Ambassador to China, it was President Theodore Roosevelt who provided funds to establish President Xi’s alma mater, Tsinghua University.”
Xi’s comments at the banquet were more ominous than Trump’s, as quoted by Xinhua, China’s leading state media outlet.
“Looking at the direction of China-US relations, whether we can have mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation is the key to whether the relationship can move forward steadily,” Xi reportedly said. “We must implement it, and never screw it up.”
Both sides have emphasized openness to cooperation in their public events and remarks, especially in economic joint interests. Trump brought with him a contingent of top American CEOs to Beijing, including Chinese Communist Party cheerleader Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook. Xi also reportedly met with CEOs to encourage more US foreign investment in China. China’s communist economy has weakened significantly as a result of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic and related lockdowns, scaring away a large portion of foreign investment.
US President Donald Trump reviews the honor guard with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on May 14, 2026. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“American companies are deeply engaged in China’s reform and opening-up, and it benefits both sides,” Trump told American business leaders, according to Xinhua.
“Noting that China’s door will only open wider, Xi said China welcomes the United States to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with China, and expressed confidence that American companies will enjoy even broader prospects in China,” the outlet said.
Separately, the Chinese Commerce Ministry confirmed on Thursday that its negotiators were holding meetings with a US delegation to South Korea led by Treasury Secretary Scott Besant. The ministry described the discussions as “constructive exchanges and further expanding practical cooperation on economic and trade issues of mutual concern”, reporting progress in bilateral relations.
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