Trump, Xi Hold High-level Talks On Trade, Iran, Taiwan Tensions In Beijing

United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday held high-level talks in Beijing focusing on trade, technology, Iran, and tensions over Taiwan, as both countries sought to stabilise relations between the world’s two largest economies.

The summit, held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, comes amid growing geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China over tariffs, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, and global security issues.

During closed-door talks, Xi reportedly warned Trump that mishandling the Taiwan issue could trigger “clashes and even conflicts,” describing the self-ruled island as Beijing’s “red line.”

The two leaders, however, agreed on the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to ensure uninterrupted global energy supplies and maintained that Iran should never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.

Speaking during a state banquet later in the day, Trump described US-China ties as “one of the most consequential” relationships globally and invited Xi to visit the White House on September 24.

“Our relationship with China is one of the most consequential,” Trump said.

Xi, in his remarks, stressed the need for both nations to maintain stable relations despite existing disagreements.

“We have had multiple meetings and phone calls, keeping US-China relations generally stable,” Xi said.

“Today, President Trump and I had in-depth exchanges on China-US relations and international and regional dynamics.

“We both believe that the China-US relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. We must make it work and never mess it up,” the Chinese leader added.

Trade and technology competition also featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides exploring possible measures to ease tensions following months of tariff disputes and restrictions involving rare earth exports and artificial intelligence development.

Reports indicate that Washington is pushing for broader access for American companies in Chinese markets, while Beijing is seeking relief from some US trade restrictions.

United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump understood the sensitivities surrounding Taiwan and would speak further on the issue in the coming days.

Several top American business executives joined Trump on the trip, including Elon Musk of Tesla, Tim Cook of Apple, and Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, underscoring the importance of trade and technology cooperation in the summit discussions.