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Xi Jinping says China and US should be partners, not rivals, as summit gets underway
The trip to Beijing marks the first by a US president in nearly a decade, after Trump last visited in 2017.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on May 14, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Kenny Holston)
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US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have begun high-level talks in Beijing, kicking off a closely watched summit unfolding against a backdrop of global tensions over trade, the Iran conflict and Taiwan.
The meeting began at the Great Hall of the People with ceremonial fanfare and tightly choreographed pageantry, underscoring the significance both sides are placing on the visit even as expectations for major breakthroughs remain muted.
Heaping praise on his host, Trump told Xi it was "an honour to be your friend", as the Chinese leader said the two sides "should be partners and not rivals".
Trump, who arrived late on Wednesday, is joined by senior US officials and top business executives on a trip aimed at securing economic gains, preserving a fragile trade truce and exploring potential areas of cooperation, even as deep strategic differences remain unresolved.
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