President Donald Trump said Friday that his White House meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping were “very productive,” as the two leaders wrapped up a state visit that will next continue at Trump’s Doral resort in Miami, Florida, this December.
Speaking to reporters as he and first lady Melania Trump hosted Xi and China’s first lady, Madame Peng Liyuan, for tea at the White House, Trump said, “we’ve had a tremendous visit from two spectacular people,” adding, “we’ve made great strides, very positive for both countries.”
Xi, responding through a translator, praised the arrangements of the visit. “I want to thank the honorable president and the first lady for everything they’ve done for myself and my wife during this visit. Everything is down to the highest order of perfection,” he said. “And there is thought in every little detail. And it’s greatly appreciated.”
“The president and I are like two people that’s charting the course for the great ship of China, U.S. relations,” Xi said.
Xi noted that when Trump visited China in May, the two agreed on building what he called a “constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.” He said this week’s talks added “new substance” to that relationship, describing it as one built “on the basis of respect, fairness and reciprocity.”
Xi said he expects to meet Trump twice more this year: first at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China in November, and again at the G20 Summit in December, which will be held at Trump’s Doral resort near Miami.
“We will see you and we’ll be speaking a lot. I think our farmers are going to be very happy,” Trump said Friday. “A lot of very positive things happened. But, America is very happy about this visit and I’m sure China is very happy also. Great things for both countries. And it’s been just very, very productive.”
Trade Issues Remain Unresolved
Xi arrived in Washington Wednesday evening, four months after he and Trump reached a broad agreement covering Chinese commitments on rare earths, agricultural purchases, trade and investment. Trump had called that earlier deal a breakthrough for American farmers, manufacturers and workers.
But this week’s talks took place against a backdrop of uneven follow-through on those earlier commitments. Key disputes over tariffs, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, intellectual property and Taiwan remain unresolved between the two governments.
After Xi departed, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “President Xi and Madam Peng have just left D.C., heading for China. The meeting was one of Friendship, Strength, and Success, for both China and the U.S.A. Much has been, and will be, accomplished. I look forward to our next meeting!”
