President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the need for cooperation among the world’s two superpowers as they seek to stabilize a trade agreement and find common ground amid uncertainty over the Iran conflict.
The two leaders shook hands outside Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Thursday morning local time, which was late Wednesday night in Washington.
They appeared chatty and friendly as they exchanged a warm handshake after Mr. Trump’s arrival, which touched off an elaborate welcome ceremony featuring a Chinese military band playing “The Star Spangled Banner” and schoolchildren cheering the U.S. president with pompoms and jumping.
During the meeting, both offered a rosy assessment of the U.S.-China relationship before reporters were moved out of the room and talks between the two sides began.
“A stable bilateral relationship is good for the world,” Mr. Xi said through a translator. “We should be partners, not rivals.”
Mr. Trump underscored his friendship with Mr. Xi, calling him a friend and a “great leader,” adding that he had “such respect” for the Chinese president.
He also said the U.S. is eager to become economic partners with Beijing.
“We’re going to have a fantastic future together,” Mr. Trump said.
The meeting was the first time Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi spoke face-to-face since October and the first visit to China by a U.S. president since Mr. Trump traveled to Beijing during his first term in 2017.
Mr. Trump is looking to strike a comprehensive trade deal. Trade discussions will center on Chinese purchases of American agricultural products, energy and aerospace technology, including Boeing aircraft.
The U.S. is also seeking to increase access to China’s rare-earth minerals and allow American companies to export food and other goods to the Chinese market.
To help solidify the economic wheeling and dealing, Mr. Trump brought with him to China several U.S. executives, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook.
They were all in attendance at Thursday’s welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, standing alongside top Trump administration officials.
Looming over all those discussions is the Iran war, which has caused the Trump-Xi summit to be postponed once. The leaders have much to gain from each other when it comes to the Iran war.
