US President Donald Trump described an initial round of talks today with Chinese President Xi Jinping as “great,” as he kicked off a two‑day summit expected to run through Friday. He also praised his Chinese counterpart in unscripted remarks, saying, “You’re a great leader. I say it to everybody.”.

Xi said Beijing and Washington agreed to work towards building a bilateral relationship of “constructive strategic stability” and told Trump: “I look forward to working together with you to set the course and steer the giant ship of China-US relations, so as to make 2026 a historic, landmark year that opens up a new chapter in China-US relations.”

The US leader arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday evening and was greeted with a red‑carpet welcome before being driven under tight security to his hotel. On Thursday, Xi formally received him at the Great Hall of the People on Tiananmen Square, where the two leaders reviewed an honour guard.

Both sides have publicly framed the summit as an attempt to stabilise relations and avoid long‑term confrontation. Xi told Trump that Beijing hoped the two countries could avoid conflict, while Trump has said he is seeking “fair and reciprocal” arrangements on trade and security that benefit American workers and businesses.

Officials on both sides say discussions will cover the Iran war and efforts to prevent wider escalation, contentious US arms sales and security ties with Taiwan, technology and data controls, tariffs and export restrictions, and China’s management of critical mineral supplies such as rare earths. 

US officials have signalled they are also looking for commitments on fentanyl precursors and cyber activity, while Beijing wants clarity on further tariff moves and restrictions on Chinese firms.

After today’s opening meeting, Trump visited Beijing’s historic Temple of Heaven and will attend a state banquet hosted by Xi in the evening. On Friday, the two leaders are scheduled to hold a tea and working lunch, with further small‑group discussions before Trump departs later in the day.

No major deals or joint statements have been announced so far, and both governments have been careful to downplay expectations of a sweeping breakthrough. Instead, diplomats describe the summit as part of a process of “managed competition,” keeping communication channels open even as sharp differences remain. Any concrete outcomes on tariffs, export controls or security issues are likely to emerge only after the summit, analysts say.