Donald Trump said Friday that he had secured “fantastic trade deals” with Xi Jinping during a high-stakes summit in Beijing that also focused on Iran, Taiwan and artificial intelligence.
The two leaders held final meetings at Zhongnanhai, the central leadership compound near Beijing’s Forbidden City.
Trump described Xi as a “great leader” and “friend” during the visit.
“We’ve made some fantastic trade deals, great for both countries,” Trump told reporters as Xi accompanied him through the gardens of the compound.
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Xi called the visit a “milestone visit” and said both countries had established “a new bilateral relationship, which is a relationship of constructive strategic stability.”
The Chinese leader also promised to send seeds for the White House Rose Garden. The summit marked the first visit by a US president to Beijing in nearly a decade.
Trump arrived in China hoping to secure agreements in agriculture, aviation and artificial intelligence while easing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Iran and Hormuz discussions dominate talks
The Middle East conflict emerged as a major issue during the summit. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said Xi assured him that China would not provide military support to Iran.
“He said he’s not going to give military equipment … he said that strongly,” Trump said.
Trump also claimed Xi offered to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz after regional tensions disrupted global shipping routes.
“He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open, and said ‘if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help,’” Trump added.
China’s Foreign Ministry later called for “a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire” in the region.
“Shipping lanes should be reopened as soon as possible in response to the calls of the international community,” the ministry said.
Meanwhile, analysts say China remains cautious because it relies heavily on Gulf energy supplies, particularly Iranian oil imports.
Boeing, soybeans and AI take center stage
Trade discussions also dominated Friday’s meetings. Trump claimed Xi agreed to purchase “200 big” Boeing aircraft, although investors reacted cautiously and Boeing shares later fell.
Read More: US-China Relations Enter Critical Moment as Trump Meets Xi
The US president said China also showed interest in purchasing American oil and soybeans. China sharply reduced soybean imports from the United States during previous tariff disputes and instead increased purchases from Brazil.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington and Beijing also discussed creating “guardrails” for artificial intelligence cooperation. Bessent told CNBC that the world’s “two AI superpowers are going to start talking.”
However, advanced semiconductor export restrictions remain a major source of tension between both countries.
Taiwan also overshadowed the summit.
Chinese state media reported that Xi warned Trump that mistakes on Taiwan could push both powers into “conflict.”
Xi also referenced the “Thucydides Trap,” a theory suggesting war becomes more likely when a rising power challenges an established one.
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Trump later responded on Truth Social, saying Xi referred to America as “perhaps being a declining nation” under former president Joe Biden.
“Now, the United States is the hottest Nation anywhere in the world,” Trump wrote.
