Trump Hails Healthy Competition Between The 2 Powers

Synopsis

While Trump has many thorny issues to discuss with the president of America’s biggest economic rival, he focused on their long relationship as the two gathered with aides for opening remarks before formal talks. Trump said, “From the time of my first election in 2016, President Xi and I have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually, built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people.”

China’s Standing

China has resisted the Trump administration’s urgings and economic threats to use its considerable leverage to prod Iran to agree to U.S. terms to end the nearly seven-month war. Xi wants Trump to permanently halt arms sales to Taiwan and loosen export restrictions on cutting-edge chips. The two sides agreed on Wednesday to extend a one-year trade truce by two months, set to expire on November 10, 2026, as they work to find a more durable agreement.

Xi was more pointed in his remarks, saying Chinese and American interests are “deeply intertwined” and that the “competition should be a healthy one and should be kept within bounds.”

He also reiterated his warning that the U.S. and China must avoid the “Thucydides trap,” referring to the idea that when a rising power threatens to displace an established one, the result is often war. Xi offered a similar warning when Trump visited Beijing in May 2026.

Xi added, “It should be a race of catching up with one another, not a wrestle in which one either wins or loses.”

Xi Says China and U.S. Should Make Sure AI Is ‘Always Under Human Control’

Trump said in a social media post earlier Thursday, September 24, 2026, that artificial intelligence, “superintelligence” as he is trying to rebrand it, will be high on the agenda amid growing global anxiety that the technology will kill jobs or potentially even wipe out humanity.

Trump wrote, “I want to leave it exactly where it is; that is China’s position also.”

Xi also touched on AI in his opening comments, saying that the two countries had a responsibility to ensure that humans always operate AI.

“We have both the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good and ensure that the development of AI is always under human control and serves the well-being of the people,” the Chinese leader said.

The two countries’ finance ministers met earlier this week, with the U.S. proposing a new “notification mechanism” for AI incidents between the two nations.

Trump Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Xi and Faces Criticism from Some White House Allies

Trump has made clear he wants to impress Xi with the visit. The Republican president made sure construction of a new helicopter landing pad on the White House’s South Lawn was completed before the visit, and he met Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, evening when they flew into Joint Base Andrews outside Washington.

The White House also arranged for an elaborate military review that the leaders and their spouses observed before the Oval Office talks. Following the military review, First Lady Melania Trump accompanied Peng for a visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art.

After about 90 minutes of talks, the leaders stepped out to the South Lawn so Trump could show off the new White House helipad and give Xi a tour of Marine One, the presidential helicopter. Trump and Xi also appeared to peer at the ballroom construction site from afar. Xi left the White House shortly after the quick tour and is to return in the evening for the state dinner.

Trump’s decision to roll out the red carpet for Xi has spurred criticism from lawmakers in both parties and some White House allies.

A Breakthrough on Iran Seems Unlikely

The two sides are also expected to discuss the ongoing conflict in Iran. Trump has argued to little effect that China, which is far more dependent on Gulf oil than the U.S., has plenty of incentive to use its sway with Tehran to help force an end to the conflict.

But Trump’s war of choice has unnerved Beijing, with the government condemning the U.S. and Israeli military action and Xi expressing concerns the conflict signalled a return to what he called the “law of the jungle”.

The Chinese were also unsettled by the military operation Trump ordered earlier this year to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power and bring him to New York City to face federal narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges.

Xi Expected to Press Trump to End Taiwan Arms Sales

China has made clear it views Taiwan as the most sensitive issue in the U.S.-China relationship.

Beijing considers Taiwan to be Chinese territory and vows to annex the island by force if necessary. The U.S. is obligated by law to provide Taiwan with sufficient hardware to deter any armed attack from the mainland.

China has pressed Washington to permanently halt the arms sales, most prominently when Trump and Xi met in Beijing in May 2026.