US President Donald Trump left Beijing after a two-day summit, saying he had struck “fantastic trade deals, great for both countries”, but few details have emerged on what the two superpowers agreed.
Trade was near the top of the agenda despite recent tensions over the Iran war, and businesses hoped for key deals as well as an extension of the tariff truce that is due to expire in November.
The visit was defined by warm rhetoric and symbolism. Trump was wooed with a packed itinerary that included an honour guard, a state banquet, and an invitation to the exclusive compound where China’s Communist Party leaders live and work.
During the visit, President Xi pointed out that this year marks “the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development.”
The over 1.4 billion people of China, drawing on the rich heritage of our over-5,000-year civilization, are advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development. This year is also the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. Over 300 million American people are reinvigorating the spirit of patriotism, innovation, and enterprise, and ushering in a new journey for the development of the United States. The people of China and the United States are both great. Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand. We can help each other succeed and advance the well-being of the whole world.
President Xi noted that 55 years ago, “Ping-Pong diplomacy” was carried out between our two countries. The door that had remained frozen for over 20 years was opened, marking a milestone in contemporary international relations. From then on, China and the United States have written many chapters of friendship through mutual opening up to each other and cooperation.
“In this new era, President Trump and I have had multiple meetings and phone calls and kept China-U.S. relations generally stable. We both believe that the China-U.S. relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. We must make it work, and never mess it up. Both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Our two countries should be partners rather than rivals,” President Xi said.
“President Trump and I also agreed to build a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability to promote the steady, sound, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations, and bring more peace, prosperity, and progress to the world.”
President Xi also stated that looking back at the course of China-U.S. relations, whether or not we could have mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation is the key to whether the relationship can advance steadily.
“China-U.S. relations concern the well-being of the over 1.7 billion people of both countries, and affect the interests of the over eight billion people of the world. Both sides should rise to this historic responsibility and steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations forward steadily and in the right direction.
President Trump thanked President Xi for the gracious reception accorded to him during his State visit. He noted that this visit was an important one, and the two sides had positive and constructive conversations.
“The American and Chinese peoples share mutual appreciation and respect, and their friendship goes back a long way. U.S.-China relations are the most consequential bilateral relationship in the world. Together, the two countries have a chance to create a better future for the world,” President Trump stated.
The US president seemed impressed and invited Xi to the White House in September. He said talks had been “very successful”, while Xi called it a “historic and landmark” visit.
President Trump, however, spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One and said China has agreed to buy 200 Boeing jets, with a potential commitment to buy an additional 750 planes. Trump also said American farmers will be happy with his trade deals because China would be buying “billions of dollars” of soybeans.
But neither side has announced trade breakthroughs or significant business deals.