Trump Makes Personal Confession to Xi During High-Stakes Summit

President Donald Trump met Thursday with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing to begin what many analysts are calling one of the most consequential diplomatic summits in years between the world’s two largest economies.

The summit comes amid rising tensions involving trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, energy security, and the growing geopolitical competition between Washington and Beijing.

President Trump arrived in the Chinese capital Wednesday evening U.S. time alongside senior Cabinet officials and a delegation of major American business leaders.

The delegation was greeted upon arrival by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.

During face-to-face talks with Xi, President Trump offered unusually warm praise for the Chinese leader while emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong relations between the two countries.

“You are a great leader. I say it to everybody, you are a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it because it’s true. I always say the truth,” Trump told Xi.

Earlier during a formal state dinner, President Trump announced that Xi and Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan had been invited to visit the White House on September 24.

Xi’s previous White House visit occurred in 2015 during the Obama administration, when he was hosted by former President Barack Obama.

The Chinese leader later returned to the United States in 2023 for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, where he met with then-President Joe Biden.

Before the current Beijing summit, Trump and Xi most recently met in person during the APEC summit in South Korea in October 2025.

The two leaders also met multiple times during President Trump’s first term, including at Mar-a-Lago in 2017 and at international summits in Beijing, Argentina, and Japan.

At Thursday’s state dinner, President Trump repeatedly highlighted the long historical and economic relationship between the United States and China.

Trump called the U.S.-China relationship “one of the most consequential relationships in world history.”

“From the beginning, our citizens have shared a deep sense of mutual respect. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin published The Sayings of Confucius in his colonial newspaper and today a sculpture recognizing that ancient Chinese sage is carved into the face of the United States Supreme Court very proudly,” Trump said.

The president also emphasized the historical role Chinese immigrants played in building America’s railroads and praised cultural and commercial ties between both nations.

“Chinese restaurants in America today outnumber the five largest fast food chains in the United States all combined. And that’s a pretty big statement,” Trump said.

“This bond of commerce and respect that stretches back 250 years is the foundation for a future that benefits both of our nations. The American and Chinese people share much in common. We value hard work,” Trump continued.

“We value courage and achievement. We love our families, and we love our countries. Together, we have the chance to draw on these values, to create a future of greater prosperity, cooperation and happiness and peace for our children,” he added.

“We love our children. This region and the world is a special world with the two of us united and together,” Trump said.

“And I’d now like to raise a glass and propose a toast to the rich and enduring ties between the American and Chinese people. It’s a very special relationship, and I want to thank you again. This has been an amazing period of time. Thank you, President Xi,” Trump concluded.

Xi also delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of maintaining stable ties between the United States and China despite growing global tensions.

“Today, President Trump and I had in-depth exchanges on China-U.S. relations and the international and regional dynamics. We both believe that the China-U.S. relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. We must make it work and never mess it up,” Xi said through a translator.

“Both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Our two countries should be partners rather than rivals,” Xi added.

The summit is expected to continue focusing on trade negotiations, investment opportunities, Iran, Taiwan, artificial intelligence, and global economic stability as both governments attempt to manage one of the world’s most strategically important — and increasingly complicated — international relationships.