Trump Toasts Xi, Touts ‘Special Relationship’ Between U.S., China

President Donald Trump formally invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan to visit the White House on September 24 during a state dinner held in Beijing this week.

The invitation marked another major moment in the increasingly high-profile diplomatic engagement between the world’s two largest superpowers as both governments attempt to stabilize relations amid tensions over trade, Taiwan, artificial intelligence, and global security.

Xi’s last official White House visit occurred in September 2015 during the Obama administration, when then-President Barack Obama hosted the Chinese leader in Washington.

Xi most recently traveled to the United States in November 2023 for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, where he met with then-President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the summit.

President Trump and Xi also met previously during the APEC summit held in South Korea in October 2025 before Trump’s current trip to Beijing.

During President Trump’s first term, he hosted Xi at Mar-a-Lago in April 2017 and later met with the Chinese leader in several international settings, including Beijing, Argentina, and Japan.

At the Beijing state dinner, President Trump delivered a lengthy toast celebrating the relationship between the United States and China while emphasizing shared history, trade, and cultural ties between the two nations.

Trump described the U.S.-China relationship as “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 highlighted the historical contributions of Chinese immigrants to the development of the United States, particularly during the construction of the nation’s railroads.

Trump further pointed to modern cultural and commercial ties between the two countries, noting the popularity of American products and culture in China.

“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 added.

“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 said.

“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 continued.

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

“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 praised the relationship between both nations during remarks delivered through a translator.

“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.

The Chinese president stressed the importance of cooperation rather than confrontation between the two countries.

“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 stated.

“President Trump and I also agreed to build a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability to promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations and bring more peace, prosperity and progress to the world,” he added.

Xi also warned about increasing global instability and emphasized the worldwide significance of the relationship between Beijing and Washington.

“Looking back at the course of China-U.S. relations, whether or not we could have mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation is the key to whether the relationship can advance steadily. The world today is changing and turbulent,” Xi said.

“China-U.S. relations concern the well-being of the over 1.7 billion people of both countries and affect the interests of the over 8 billion people of the world,” he added.

The dinner underscored the growing diplomatic importance of President Trump’s Beijing visit as both nations attempt to navigate mounting global tensions while preserving economic stability and avoiding direct confrontation between the world’s two largest powers.