Xi gets red-carpet welcome as trade truce rolls on
Thestandard · 10 SOURCES44 minutes ago2 MIN
Summary
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Washington visit ended with more ceremony than substance, as President Donald Trump staged an elaborate reception while both sides kept contentious issues largely unresolved. The clearest outcome was an extension of the Busan trade truce to January 10, alongside pledges to keep talking. Xi used the trip to press the US to oppose Taiwan independence and to seek a negotiated end to the Iran war, while Trump highlighted security, technology and artificial intelligence as key agenda items.
Key Points
- Trump personally greeted Xi and Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews just after 6pm on Wednesday, an unusual presidential gesture for Xi’s first US state visit in over a decade.
- The US and China extended the Busan trade deal from November 10 to January 10, but BBC reported Beijing had hoped for a much longer extension.
- At the White House, Trump hosted military honours, a black-tie state dinner and a guest list heavy with tech executives, but no major policy breakthroughs were announced.
- Xi said China and the US should be “partners rather than rivals”, while also urging Washington to oppose Taiwan independence and handle the issue cautiously.
- The visit is set to conclude with Trump and Xi touring the National Archives, including documents tied to US founding history and the US-China relationship.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the limited progress means the biggest flashpoints in US-China ties, including tariffs, technology controls and Taiwan, remain live risks rather than settled issues. Continued short-term truces may steady markets briefly, but the lack of durable agreements suggests more policy uncertainty for trade, investment and regional security.
For Hong Kong readers, the limited progress means the biggest flashpoints in US-China ties, including tariffs, technology controls and Taiwan, remain live risks rather than settled issues. Continued short-term truces may steady markets briefly, but the lack of durable agreements suggests more policy uncertainty for trade, investment and regional security.