U.S., China Pledge More Stable Ties After Xi-Trump Meeting in Beijing

Addis Ababa, May 13, 2026 —The United States and China have agreed to work toward building a “constructive and strategically stable relationship,” following talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during Trump’s visit to Beijing this week.

The two leaders met behind closed doors on Thursday at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People as part of Trump’s three-day state visit to China from May 13 to 15.

According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, President Xi said the new framework would serve as a long-term guide for bilateral relations and help both countries respond to global challenges while promoting international peace and development.

 

Xi described recent trade negotiations between the two countries as producing “generally balanced and positive outcomes,” saying the progress was encouraging not only for China and the United States but also for the global economy.

“The essence of China-U.S. economic relations is mutual benefit and win-win cooperation,” Xi said.

He added that dialogue and equal consultation remain the best way to resolve trade disputes and economic friction.

On his part, President Trump said he was prepared to work with Xi to expand cooperation, manage differences responsibly, and strengthen ties between the world’s two largest economies.

 

Beyond trade, the two leaders discussed several major international flashpoints, including tensions in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and developments on the Korean Peninsula.

They also agreed to support one another in hosting major international gatherings later this year, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit and the G20 Summit.

Xi said the new relationship framework would provide strategic direction for China-U.S. relations over the next three years and beyond, emphasizing Beijing’s commitment to maintaining stable and sustainable ties with Washington.

In public remarks before the private meeting, Xi expressed hope that he and Trump could help make 2026 a “historic milestone” in relations between the two countries.

 

Despite persistent differences over trade, security, and regional influence, many observers see Thursday’s meeting as a positive step toward easing tensions and strengthening cooperation between the world’s two largest economies.