![\"Amy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Amy_Hawkins.png\")
Amy Hawkins<\/p>\nXi says China-US relationship key to global stability as summit talks beginAmy Hawkins<\/p>\n
Presidents Donald Trump<\/a> and Xi Jinping have started their bilateral talks inside the Great Hall of the People, China\u2019s grand national legislature.<\/p>\n In opening remarks, Xi noted that 2026 marks 250 years of US independence and said that stability in the US-China relationship was necessary for global stability.<\/p>\n Trump said that he and Xi have \u201cknown each other for a long time\u201d and that Xi was a \u201cgreat leader\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI say to everybody you\u2019re a great leader,\u201d Trump told Xi. \u201cSometimes people don\u2019t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.47 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Xi tells Trump China and US could ‘come into conflict’ if Taiwan mishandled \u2013 report<\/p>\n Xi Jinping has told Donald Trump<\/a> their countries could come into conflict if the issue over self-ruled Taiwan claimed by Beijing is mishandled, Chinese state media said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,\u201d Xi said at their summit, according to state broadcaster CCTV.<\/p>\n double quotation markIf mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.19 EDT<\/p>\n Xi says China and the US must transcend ‘Thucydides Trap’<\/p>\n References to ancient Greece may not have been high on today\u2019s prediction list, but that is exactly what Xi Jinping<\/a> did when he welcomed Trump in Beijing today.<\/p>\n Xi name-checked an ancient Greek historian to express his hopes that the US and China<\/a> can avoid conflict, saying that history, the world and its people were asking whether the two countries can transcend the \u201cThucydides Trap\u201d and forge a new model for relations between major powers.<\/p>\n US president Donald Trump is greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on 14 May, 2026 in Beijing, China. Photograph: Alex Wong\/Getty Images<\/p>\n He was using a term that\u2019s popular in foreign policy studies, referring to the idea that when a rising power threatens to displace an established power, the result is often war.<\/p>\n It comes from Thucydides\u2019 account of the destructive Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, in which he remarked that: \u201cIt was the rise of Athens, and the fear that rise engendered in Sparta, that made war inevitable.\u201d<\/p>\n Xi says the world is at a crossroads, marked by turbulence and uncertainty.<\/p>\n The question before China and the United States, he said, is \u201cwhether the two countries can work together to meet challenges and bring greater stability to the world\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Asian markets were mixed on Thursday as investors weighed the US-China summit along with persistent inflation concerns, which tempered optimism fuelled by record highs on Wall Street.<\/p>\n The Nasdaq and S+P 500 hit the fresh highs overnight but investor attention centred on Donald Trump\u2019s Beijing visit, with markets hoping for progress in easing trade tensions but analysts cautioning against expecting a major breakthrough.<\/p>\n As the strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut, the price of international benchmark Brent crude oil was marginally up on Thursday morning, going for a little over $105 a barrel, AFP reports.<\/p>\n In Asian markets, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei and Manila advanced, while Shanghai, Wellington and Singapore were down.<\/p>\n Currency markets were relatively steady, with the yen slightly weaker and the yuan ticking higher.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n As the high-stakes US-China summit continues, negotiations on the conflict in the Middle East, the US-China trade war, disagreements over Taiwan and global AI competition will be packed into just over 24 hours.<\/p>\n US secretary of state Marco Rubio<\/a> said<\/a> as the Trump team travelled to Beijing that Washington would be pushing Beijing for help on the Iran crisis.<\/p>\n Beijing, meanwhile, hopes to use the meeting to recalibrate US-China ties and set a foundation for a stable and, optimistically, predictable trade relationship going forwards.<\/p>\n Amy Hawkins<\/a> also reports that Xie Feng, China\u2019s ambassador to the US, said in the Chinese Communist party\u2019s official newspaper on Thursday:<\/p>\n double quotation markAgainst the backdrop of escalating international instability, the strategic significance of Sino-US relations is even more prominent.<\/p>\n It is not clear what concrete outcomes will be achieved at this week\u2019s talks. The Trump administration<\/a> has talked of establishing a Board of Trade with China to address commercial differences between the countries. Beijing wants to push Trump to soften US support for Taiwan, although many in Beijing concede this is unlikely.<\/p>\n Despite the trip lasting barely two days, Xi and Trump will have plenty of time for interaction on this visit \u2013 the first of up to four presidential meetings expected this year.<\/p>\n See the full report here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.35 EDT<\/p>\n Donald Trump was evidently pleased with his welcome in Beijing. US domestic critics will say that it flattered his authoritarian ego perfectly.<\/p>\n In October 2024 Trump said of Xi Jinping:<\/p>\n double quotation markHe controls 1.4 billion people with an iron fist. I mean, he\u2019s a brilliant guy, whether you like it or not.<\/p>\n The US president will have loved the cool, clinical pageantry that greeted him at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing: red carpet, cannon fire, martial music and troops in ceremonial uniforms with bayoneted rifles marching in lockstep.<\/p>\n Trump stopped to applaud children who energetically waved flags and flowers with theatrical adulation. He watched as Xi warmly shook hands with his son, Eric, and his favourite rightwing ideologue, Stephen Miller.<\/p>\n Trump accompanied by Xi during the welcome in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Photograph: Kenny Holston\/AP<\/p>\n \u201cThat was an honour like few have ever seen before,\u201d Trump said when they sat down in a grand boardroom.<\/p>\n He told Xi:<\/p>\n double quotation markYou\u2019re a great leader. Sometimes people don\u2019t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it\u2019s true. I only say the truth.<\/p>\n Once, such China-US meetings were palpably between autocrat and democrat. Now they appear like two birds of a feather.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.07 EDT<\/p>\n More from the two leaders\u2019 opening remarks now.<\/p>\n Trump told Xi in the meeting room that their two countries were \u201cgoing to have a fantastic future together\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an honour to be with you,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s an honour to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n The Chinese leader was quoting as telling Trump at the table with their delegations in the Great Hall of the People that he was \u201chappy\u201d for the US president\u2019s visit while the world was \u201cat a new crossroads\u201d and that he looked forward to exchanging views with him on major issues.<\/p>\n Xi said:<\/p>\n double quotation markA stable China-US relationship is a boon for the world. Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both. We should be partners and not rivals.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.59 EDT<\/p>\n Xi says China-US relationship key to global stability as summit talks begin Presidents Donald Trump<\/a> and Xi Jinping have started their bilateral talks inside the Great Hall of the People, China\u2019s grand national legislature.<\/p>\n In opening remarks, Xi noted that 2026 marks 250 years of US independence and said that stability in the US-China relationship was necessary for global stability.<\/p>\n Donald Trump walks with Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. Photograph: Alex Wong\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Trump said that he and Xi have \u201cknown each other for a long time\u201d and that Xi was a \u201cgreat leader\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI say to everybody you\u2019re a great leader,\u201d Trump told Xi. \u201cSometimes people don\u2019t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.47 EDT<\/p>\n Trump tells Xi their relationship will be ‘better than ever’<\/p>\n The US-China summit is now under way.<\/p>\n Xi said in opening remarks that he always believed that the common interests between China and the US outweighed the differences.<\/p>\n He also said the success of China and the US was an opportunity for each other.<\/p>\n Trump told him in reply that the relationship was \u201cgoing to be better than ever\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.06 EDT<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s motorcade arrived at the Great Hall at 10.01am local time, almost exactly on schedule.<\/p>\n It slowly drew to a halt and Trump emerged at 10.03, wearing a suit and red tie. A band played a fanfare.<\/p>\n He walked over to Xi \u2013 who was standing by the steps \u2013 and they shook hands for a couple of seconds, with Trump briefly patting Xi\u2019s hand, AFP reports.<\/p>\n Xi, accompanied by Trump, then shook hands with the US delegation front row.<\/p>\n Trump and Xi moved to the raised red-and-gold dais as the Chinese military band played the Star Spangled Banner. Trump saluted as cannon fire rang out across Tianenmen Square. Both leaders then stood to attention for the Chinese national anthem.<\/p>\n Trump and Xi inspected an honour guard of several lines of Chinese troops in various ceremonial uniforms in blue and white with bayoneted rifles. Nearest the press poll was a group of rifle-clutching female troops.<\/p>\n Schoolchildren then energetically did their routine and Trump smiled broadly and applauded them as Xi and he moved along in front of them, later heading towards the Great Hall.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.55 EDT<\/p>\n Trump and Xi have entered the Great Hall of the People, along with their entourages, and the welcome ceremony has ended.<\/p>\n Bilateral talks between the two countries are now to follow, and we\u2019re seeing live images of the two delegations seated on a long table with Chinese and US flags at the end.<\/p>\n Donald Trump and Xi Jinping greet children waving Chinese and US national flags. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Xi is delivering opening remarks as Trump listens, sometimes nodding, and then Trump addresses Xi.<\/p>\n The day is to later include a visit to the Temple of Heaven and a state banquet.<\/p>\n![\"Donald](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5637.jpg\")
Donald Trump walks with Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. Photograph: Alex Wong\/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/David_Smith.png\")
David Smith<\/p>\nAmy Hawkins<\/p>\n