In a meeting that has captured global attention, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump held high-level talks at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday. Both leaders expressed a shared commitment to making 2026 a “historic, landmark year” for bilateral relations, signaling a potential reset in the world’s most consequential diplomatic partnership.
Opening the dialogue, President Xi noted that the international situation is currently “fluid and turbulent,” with the world standing at another historical crossroads. He posed a series of critical questions regarding whether the two superpowers can overcome the “Thucydides Trap”—the historical tendency toward conflict when a rising power challenges an established one—and instead create a new paradigm of major-country relations.
“Can we meet global challenges together and provide greater stability for the world?” Xi asked, emphasizing that the answers to these questions are vital to the future of humanity. He stressed that China and the U.S. should be partners rather than rivals, helping each other succeed and prosper together.
President Trump echoed the optimistic tone, stating that he looks forward to a fantastic future between the two nations. Highlighting the weight of the visit, Trump was accompanied by a high-level American business delegation, including Elon Musk, which he described as a gesture of profound respect toward China and President Xi.
“It’s an honor to be your friend,” Trump told Xi, adding that he believes the relationship between China and the USA is poised to be “better than ever before.”
The talks come at a time of accelerating global transformation. President Xi emphasized that China and the U.S. share significantly more common interests than differences. He argued that success in one country should be viewed as an opportunity for the other, rather than a threat, noting that a stable China-US relationship is a prerequisite for global prosperity.
Both leaders committed to “steering the giant ship” of China-US ties toward a more cooperative course, focusing on mutual stability and economic growth.
Source: CGTN
