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Chinese President Xi Jinping told attendees at the White House that the United States and China must act as responsible major countries, meet the expectations of their peoples, keep pace with the trend of the times, and explore a new approach for major countries to get along with each other, according to a transcript published by Xinhua. Xi added that President Trump’s pledge to make America great again and China’s commitment to national rejuvenation are ambitious goals that can surely be mutually reinforcing. The remarks followed talks earlier that day in which the two leaders reached common understanding on many issues.
Reuters reported that the two sides agreed to extend a trade truce by two months until January 10 to allow further negotiations on tariffs, purchases and technology restrictions. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the extension would give both sides more time to see what could be achieved on the economic front. The agreement builds on an earlier deal that had been set to expire in November.
Xinhua stated that the exchange of state visits within less than half a year made history in bilateral engagement and added new substance to constructive relations. Trump, who greeted Xi upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews the previous evening, spoke of a truly great friendship built on mutual respect and the vital interests of both peoples since his first election in 2016. The Chinese leader also extended greetings for the Mid-Autumn Festival to Americans who support growth in China-US ties.
A Business Times report showed that tech executives including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Apple’s Tim Cook and others from Microsoft and Google attended the dinner alongside officials. The gathering underscored the role of business leaders in the relationship between the world’s two largest economies. White House details indicated the menu featured American ingredients with subtle Chinese influences, such as yellow squash velouté and sesame-crusted sea bass.
Xinhua reported that the presidents exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East, the Ukraine crisis, the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan during their meetings. Xi urged the United States to handle the Taiwan question with prudence to lay a solid foundation for strategic cooperation. Reuters reported that Xi referenced the Thucydides Trap theory of rising and established powers while stating the risk could be overcome.
The South China Morning Post reported that the state dinner capped a day that included a ceremonial welcome on the South Lawn with military honors, a flyover and a tour of the White House helipad. This marked Xi’s first visit to Washington in more than a decade and the second face-to-face meeting between the leaders this year. Both sides expressed commitment to steering relations toward stability amid ongoing discussions on artificial intelligence and security issues.
