Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump used the second day of Xi's state visit to present a more stable vision for relations between the world's 2 largest economies. Speaking at the White House on Thursday morning, both leaders praised cooperation and said competition should be managed rather than allowed to become confrontation.
Trump said the 2 countries could work towards a “better future for both our countries”. Xi called for the United States and China to “coexist in peace” and maintain competition that remains “healthy”.
The tone was followed by a military display. Xi was welcomed with a flyover involving a B-2 Spirit and 4 F-22 Raptors. The B-2 is a strategic bomber designed to carry nuclear and conventional weapons across continents and is rarely used in such flyovers.
Xi calls for open trade and more travel
Xi urged Washington to treat Chinese companies fairly and said China's door would remain “always wide open” to American businesses. He argued that the countries could expand cooperation while reducing the number of disputes between them.
The Chinese president said competition should not be avoided, but should stay within limits. He also called for more direct flights between China and the United States, linking expanded air travel with stronger 2-way movement of people and trade.
Military communication and avoiding conflict
Xi said the 2 militaries should maintain regular dialogue and improve channels for crisis communication and prevention. He connected those measures to the effort to avoid the Thucydides' trap, a theory that a rising power and an established hegemon are destined to go to war.
“China and the US must hold the bottom line of no conflict and no confrontation,” Xi said. He also sought stronger communication among officials handling foreign affairs, economic issues, financial cooperation and law enforcement.
Artificial intelligence remains a shared concern
Both leaders highlighted the need for cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) and the risks associated with the technology. Trump used “superintelligence”, or SI, as his preferred term.
Xi said China and the United States, as leading AI nations, should ensure that the technology remains under human control. The 2 countries had previously agreed in 2024 that humans, rather than AI, should control the use of nuclear weapons.
Trump described progress on bilateral matters as “tremendous strides”. He cited the Board of Trade mechanism created during his May summit with Xi and called it “unbelievably successful”. He said discussions in Washington would address security, technology and AI, adding that decisions in those areas could support peace and prosperity for decades.
Exchanges, pandas and wartime history
Xi announced that 2 giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, would arrive at Zoo Atlanta in Georgia “in a few days”. China also plans to invite 100,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study during the coming 5 years. China said an earlier invitation for 50,000 young Americans, made during Xi's previous visit in 2023, had been fulfilled.
The leaders also recalled the history of US-China cooperation during World War II against Japan. Trump referred to the Flying Tigers, American pilots who volunteered to fight in China, while Xi said people in China had not forgotten that shared history and that Americans had not forgotten it either.
Conclusion
The White House remarks combined calls for cooperation on AI, trade, travel and people-to-people exchanges with a direct emphasis on military communication and avoiding conflict. The next focus identified by Trump is discussion of security, technology and AI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What did Xi Jinping and Donald Trump discuss?
They discussed US-China stability, managed competition, AI cooperation, security, technology, trade, travel and exchanges between people.
Q. What did Xi say about conflict between China and the United States?
Xi said the 2 countries must maintain a bottom line of no conflict and no confrontation.
Q. What aircraft took part in the flyover?
The flyover included a B-2 Spirit and 4 F-22 Raptors.
Q. What did the leaders say about artificial intelligence?
They said the 2 countries should cooperate on AI risks and ensure that humans retain control over the technology.
Q. What exchange plan did Xi announce?
China plans to invite 100,000 young Americans for exchange and study in China during the coming 5 years.
Q. Which pandas are expected at Zoo Atlanta?
The pandas are named Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, and Xi said they would arrive in a few days.
