Trump Visits Beijing, Xi Jinping Welcomes with Red Carpet to Create Friendly Atmosphere
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a grand welcoming ceremony for U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing today. This is Trump's first visit to China since 2017. The two greeted each other on the red carpet in front of the Great Hall of the People, creating a congenial atmosphere.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 12:45
- 🔍 Collected: May 14, 2026 at 13:02 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 15, 2026 at 06:51 (17h 49m after Collected)
(CNA, Beijing, 14th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Chinese President Xi Jinping held a grand welcoming ceremony for U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing today. This is Trump's first visit to China since 2017. The two sides met and greeted each other on a red carpet in front of the Great Hall of the People, and the atmosphere appeared harmonious.
According to reports from CNN, AFP, and Reuters, Trump shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with Xi Jinping upon his arrival at the Great Hall of the People. Trump then shook hands with several Chinese officials, including Xi's chief of staff Cai Qi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Vice Premier He Lifeng. Accompanied by Trump, Xi also shook hands with several U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Peter Hegseth, who had previously taken a hardline stance on China.
Trump and Xi stood in the center of the venue as a Chinese military band played the national anthems of the United States and China, accompanied by a cannon salute.
A group of schoolchildren in brightly colored clothes, holding American and Chinese flags and flowers, shouted "Welcome, welcome!" in the square as Trump and Xi walked past them. Reuters noted that Trump occasionally patted Xi's back.
CNN reported that the two leaders looked friendly, familiar with each other, and relaxed on the red carpet.
The two, along with their respective officials, then entered the Great Hall of the People for talks.
Xi delivered the opening remarks, pointing out that the once-in-a-century changes are accelerating, and the world is at a new crossroads. "Can China and the U.S. overcome the Thucydides Trap (Editor's note: referring to the inevitable conflict when a rising power challenges a ruling power) and create a new paradigm for major power relations? Can they work together to address global challenges and inject more stability into the world? Can they, with an eye on the well-being of the two peoples and the future of humanity, jointly create a better future for the bilateral relationship? These are the questions of history, the world, and the people, and they are the epochal questions that the leaders of major powers need to answer together."
Xi concluded by emphasizing his expectation to "jointly steer and pilot the great ship of China-U.S. relations" with Trump.
Trump then delivered his remarks, stating it was an honor to meet with Xi today. "We get along very well. When difficulties arise, we solve them. I call you, you call me. People don't know that whenever we have a problem, we can solve it very quickly."
Trump said he led a group of the world's top business leaders this time. "The people who came here to greet you today are the top people."
To convey an optimistic atmosphere at the beginning of the summit, Trump told Xi: "It is an honor to be with you, and an honor to be your friend. The relationship between the U.S. and China will be better than ever before."
Neither leader mentioned Iran or other global issues in their opening remarks, focusing instead on calls for maintaining a stable bilateral relationship.
The New York Times pointed out that at the summit in Beijing today, Trump and Xi are expected to discuss trade, Iran, Taiwan, and other controversial issues. This summit, the first visit by a U.S. president to China in nearly a decade, could determine whether the current detente between the two superpowers can be sustained and what concessions each might make.
The last time Xi and Trump met was on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in South Korea at the end of last October, where they agreed to a truce in their tit-for-tat trade war.
Before his trip, Trump stated that the Beijing visit from May 13 to 15 would also focus on trade and investment. More than a dozen top U.S. executives, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, are accompanying him, hoping to push for further opening of the Chinese market. However, analysts believe the likelihood of a major deal between the U.S. and China this time is low, with Beijing likely to make only limited commitments on purchasing Boeing aircraft and U.S. agricultural products like soybeans and beef.
It is also expected that Trump will ask Beijing to help persuade Iran to end the war that the U.S. and Israel launched against Iran on February 28.
As for Xi, analysts believe he may seek a relaxation of U.S. export controls on advanced technology and ask Trump to promise not to raise tariffs on Chinese goods further, as well as persuade the U.S. to significantly reduce arms sales to Taiwan. (Compiled by: Lu Ying-tzu, Chen Yi-wei) 1150514
According to reports from CNN, AFP, and Reuters, Trump shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with Xi Jinping upon his arrival at the Great Hall of the People. Trump then shook hands with several Chinese officials, including Xi's chief of staff Cai Qi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Vice Premier He Lifeng. Accompanied by Trump, Xi also shook hands with several U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Peter Hegseth, who had previously taken a hardline stance on China.
Trump and Xi stood in the center of the venue as a Chinese military band played the national anthems of the United States and China, accompanied by a cannon salute.
A group of schoolchildren in brightly colored clothes, holding American and Chinese flags and flowers, shouted "Welcome, welcome!" in the square as Trump and Xi walked past them. Reuters noted that Trump occasionally patted Xi's back.
CNN reported that the two leaders looked friendly, familiar with each other, and relaxed on the red carpet.
The two, along with their respective officials, then entered the Great Hall of the People for talks.
Xi delivered the opening remarks, pointing out that the once-in-a-century changes are accelerating, and the world is at a new crossroads. "Can China and the U.S. overcome the Thucydides Trap (Editor's note: referring to the inevitable conflict when a rising power challenges a ruling power) and create a new paradigm for major power relations? Can they work together to address global challenges and inject more stability into the world? Can they, with an eye on the well-being of the two peoples and the future of humanity, jointly create a better future for the bilateral relationship? These are the questions of history, the world, and the people, and they are the epochal questions that the leaders of major powers need to answer together."
Xi concluded by emphasizing his expectation to "jointly steer and pilot the great ship of China-U.S. relations" with Trump.
Trump then delivered his remarks, stating it was an honor to meet with Xi today. "We get along very well. When difficulties arise, we solve them. I call you, you call me. People don't know that whenever we have a problem, we can solve it very quickly."
Trump said he led a group of the world's top business leaders this time. "The people who came here to greet you today are the top people."
To convey an optimistic atmosphere at the beginning of the summit, Trump told Xi: "It is an honor to be with you, and an honor to be your friend. The relationship between the U.S. and China will be better than ever before."
Neither leader mentioned Iran or other global issues in their opening remarks, focusing instead on calls for maintaining a stable bilateral relationship.
The New York Times pointed out that at the summit in Beijing today, Trump and Xi are expected to discuss trade, Iran, Taiwan, and other controversial issues. This summit, the first visit by a U.S. president to China in nearly a decade, could determine whether the current detente between the two superpowers can be sustained and what concessions each might make.
The last time Xi and Trump met was on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in South Korea at the end of last October, where they agreed to a truce in their tit-for-tat trade war.
Before his trip, Trump stated that the Beijing visit from May 13 to 15 would also focus on trade and investment. More than a dozen top U.S. executives, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, are accompanying him, hoping to push for further opening of the Chinese market. However, analysts believe the likelihood of a major deal between the U.S. and China this time is low, with Beijing likely to make only limited commitments on purchasing Boeing aircraft and U.S. agricultural products like soybeans and beef.
It is also expected that Trump will ask Beijing to help persuade Iran to end the war that the U.S. and Israel launched against Iran on February 28.
As for Xi, analysts believe he may seek a relaxation of U.S. export controls on advanced technology and ask Trump to promise not to raise tariffs on Chinese goods further, as well as persuade the U.S. to significantly reduce arms sales to Taiwan. (Compiled by: Lu Ying-tzu, Chen Yi-wei) 1150514