14 May,2026 10:26 AM IST | Beijing | mid-day online correspondent
US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with China`s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Pic/AFP
US President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed confidence that relations between Washington and Beijing would improve significantly as he began high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
The bilateral meeting, being closely watched across the world, comes amid ongoing tensions between the two countries over trade, technology, regional security and geopolitical competition.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Trump praised Xi's leadership and described the Chinese President as a "great leader," while also highlighting the long-standing communication between the two leaders.
Trump thanked Xi for the formal welcome extended to him and the American delegation during the ceremonial reception in Beijing.
The US President described the event as one of the most impressive welcomes he had experienced and said he was particularly moved by the participation of children during the ceremony.
According to Trump, the children represented the future and symbolised the warmth of the reception organised by the Chinese government.
He also praised the ceremonial arrangements and military honours during the official welcome at the Great Hall of the People.
During his remarks, Trump said he and Xi had developed a long-standing relationship over the years and had managed difficult situations through direct communication.
The US President stated that whenever disagreements emerged between the two countries, both leaders had worked to resolve issues through personal conversations and diplomatic engagement.
Trump suggested that this direct communication had helped prevent tensions from escalating further during previous periods of disagreement between Washington and Beijing.
He also noted that the relationship between the two leaders was among the longest-standing interactions between presidents of the two countries in recent decades.
Trump also highlighted the presence of leading American business executives accompanying him during the China visit.
He said several major US business leaders were interested in expanding economic cooperation and trade engagement with China despite ongoing economic tensions between the two countries.
The US President described the delegation as comprising some of the world's leading business figures and indicated that economic cooperation remained an important part of bilateral discussions.
The visit comes at a time when both countries continue to face disagreements over tariffs, supply chains, semiconductor technology and market access.
The US President described the ongoing talks as potentially historic and claimed that the meeting was attracting major attention in the United States and globally.
According to Trump, many observers viewed the summit as one of the most significant meetings between leaders of the two countries in recent years.
He concluded his opening remarks by saying it was an honour to consider Xi a friend and expressed optimism that relations between China and the United States would become "better than ever before."
Earlier in the day, Trump and Xi held a formal meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing after participating in an official welcome ceremony.
Both leaders exchanged a warm handshake before Trump was introduced to senior members of the Chinese leadership.
The meeting is expected to focus on several sensitive issues, including trade disputes, technology restrictions, Indo-Pacific security concerns and broader geopolitical competition between the world's two largest economies.
Analysts believe the outcome of the talks could influence global markets, diplomatic relations and international trade policies in the coming months.
(With inputs from Agencies)
