Xi leaves Washington after Trump meeting. What did Trump and Xi discuss?
Xi leaves Washington after Trump meeting. (Image courtesy: X/@eAsiaMediaHub)
New Delhi: A high-profile round of US-China diplomacy came to an end as the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, wrapped up his Washington state visit following talks with the US president, Donald Trump. The conversations between the two leaders during the two-day meeting ranged across trade, Taiwan, Iran, artificial intelligence and military ties.
Xi was seen off by senior US officials at the airport, where a 21-gun salute was held in his honour. Chinese students and members of the overseas Chinese community also gathered along the route, waving Chinese and American flags as the Chinese president departed the US capital.
The discussions were aimed at keeping tensions between the two countries under control while creating room for negotiations on their competing economic and strategic interests.
US-China trade truce extended
The two governments agreed to give their existing trade truce another two months, extending the period available for officials to negotiate a wider economic understanding. The extension keeps tariffs at their current temporary framework while Washington and Beijing continue discussions over purchases, market access and other trade commitments.
The White House said the US and China also set up trade and investment boards agreed during their May 2026 summit. The trade board agreed on lower tariffs for $30 billion worth of non-sensitive goods from each side and started talks on agricultural market access.
China will also import at least 10 million tonnes of US coal in both 2027 and 2028, according to the White House. The two sides will continue working on US concerns over shortages involving rare earths and other critical minerals, with the stated goal of restoring shipments to appropriate levels.
Taiwan was among the most politically sensitive subjects raised during the talks. As RNA Media earlier reported, Xi asked Washington to approach the Taiwan issue with caution and oppose Taiwanese independence.
Iran, military ties and wider security concerns
The conflict involving Iran also entered the summit discussions as Washington continues to pressure Tehran. According to reports, the US ambassador to China, David Perdue, said Trump told Xi that Chinese assistance to Iran would be “totally unacceptable”, including any support involving intelligence, components or military equipment.
Perdue said the warning had been communicated to Beijing before the summit and was repeated by Trump during his White House meeting with Xi. Trump later acknowledged discussing the Iran war with the Chinese president, although he did not publicly provide details about what was agreed or discussed on the issue.
The White House said the two leaders also discussed Russia, North Korea and Iran and agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. Trump also urged Xi to increase production of refined petroleum products to help stabilise global supply.
Xi also pushed for more consistent contact between the US and Chinese militaries, arguing that the two powers need stronger channels to prevent disagreements from turning into larger security crises.
The White House said the two countries would support each other as respective hosts of the G20 and Apec, with both leaders intending to attend each other’s summits. Trump also advocated trilateral arms control negotiations between the US, Russia and China.
AI cooperation and symbolic gestures
The White House said the two leaders agreed to use the term “super intelligence” rather than “artificial intelligence” for the applicable emerging technologies. The two countries also established a US-China Super Intelligence Dialogue to discuss the risks and benefits of the technology, with the next exchange expected by November 2026, and agreed to establish a bilateral communication channel for super-intelligence incidents.
Trump later showed Xi the Marine One helicopter and the newly redesigned South Lawn, while the state dinner featured prominent American business and technology figures. The evening also included an exchange of symbolic gifts, with Trump presenting Xi with an eagle sculpture, alongside references to the history of US-China relations.
The White House also said the US welcomed the arrival of two giant pandas leased by China to the Atlanta Zoo, adding a symbolic element to the broader diplomatic engagement between Washington and Beijing.
