Trump-Xi talks begin under shadow of Taiwan and Iran tensions

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are holding high-level talks in Beijing on Thursday, following a ceremonial welcome, with both leaders highlighting cooperation despite ongoing tensions. 

⦿ 23:00 GMT | UPDATE

Trump and Xi set for second day of talks after Taiwan warning

Reuters

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are set to conclude a two-day summit in Beijing focused on stabilising fragile U.S.-China trade relations, with discussions including tariffs, rare earth supplies, and the Strait of Hormuz.

Xi warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could push relations into “a very dangerous place”, underscoring ongoing strategic tensions despite the otherwise cordial tone of the visit.

The talks also produced signs of limited economic progress, including China’s reported agreement to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, although this fell short of market expectations and did little to ease broader geopolitical concerns.

⦿ 22:45 GMT | UPDATE

Ship reported seized off UAE as Trump discusses Iran with Xi

Reuters

Iranian personnel reportedly seized a ship off the coast of the United Arab Emirates on Thursday and directed it towards Iranian waters, as tensions continued around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

The Donald Trump administration said Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed the strait should remain open, with China opposing its militarisation and any attempt to impose transit tolls.

Meanwhile, Iran says it is allowing some foreign vessels to pass under specific agreements, although shipping traffic through the strait remains far below pre-war levels as negotiations between Tehran and Washington remain stalled.

⦿ 22:20 GMT | UPDATE

Trump hopes U.S.-China relationship 'will be stronger'

Reuters

President Donald Trump said on Friday that he hoped the relationship between the U.S. and China "will be stronger and better than ever before."

"Hopefully our relationship with China will be stronger and better than ever before," Trump said in a post on Truth Social during his trip to China.

⦿ 19:50 GMT | UPDATE

IMF says constructive U.S.-China dialogue, reduced tensions good for world economy

Reuters

The International Monetary Fund welcomed the initial talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying constructive dialogue between the world’s two largest economies would help reduce global trade tensions and uncertainty.

The IMF said rising oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict and Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz were putting increasing pressure on the global economy, with growth potentially slowing to 2.5% this year under its adverse scenario.

Trump said China had agreed to order 200 Boeing aircraft, while U.S. officials said discussions also covered American energy and agricultural exports, as well as new trade and investment mechanisms between the two countries.

The IMF also said several countries were seeking policy advice and possible financial assistance to cope with higher energy and commodity prices caused by the ongoing regional conflict.

⦿ 16:10 GMT | UPDATE

China has agreed to buy 200 Boeing jets, Trump says

Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday told Fox News that China had agreed to order 200 Boeing jets.

⦿ 15:43 GMT | UPDATE

Trump says Xi told him China won't provide military equipment to Iran

Anadolu

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Chinese President Xi Jinping told him Beijing would not provide military equipment to Iran and expressed support for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.

“He [Xi] said he’s not gonna give military equipment. That’s a big statement,” Trump said during an interview with FOX News.

Trump also said Xi told him China wants the Strait of Hormuz to remain open because Beijing buys large amounts of oil from the region.

“He [Xi] said they buy a lot of their oil there, and they’d like to keep doing that,” said Trump, adding that the Chinese President “would like to see the Hormuz Strait open.”

“President Xi would like to see a deal made. He said, 'If I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help.' Anybody that buys that much oil has obviously got some kind of relationship, but he'd like to see the Hormuz Strait open,” Trump added.

Chinese authorities did not immediately respond to Trump's claims.

⦿ 12:34 GMT | UPDATE

U.S., China discuss AI guardrails at Beijing summit

Reuters

The United States and China are discussing safeguards for advanced artificial intelligence models during talks in Beijing, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, as concerns grow over the misuse of powerful AI systems by criminal and non-state actors.

Bessent told CNBC the two sides aim to establish protocols and best practices to prevent advanced models from being exploited, while avoiding restrictions that could “stifle innovation.”

The discussions come after Anthropic’s new Mythos AI tool exposed major software vulnerabilities, prompting urgent security upgrades by banks and companies worldwide. Officials have warned that such systems could be used to disrupt financial markets and critical infrastructure.

Bessent said Washington is consulting closely with Alphabet’s Google, OpenAI and Anthropic on AI safety standards, adding that the U.S. intends to promote “U.S. best practices” globally.

⦿ 11:00 GMT | UPDATE

China-U.S. relation can not be messed up

Reuters

The relationship between China and the U.S. is the most important bilateral relationship in the world today and we "must make it work and never mess it up," China's President said on Thursday.

Xi made the remarks in a toast at a state banquet he was hosting for visiting U.S. President, adding that the "rejuvenation of China" and "Make America Great Again" can go hand in hand.

⦿ 10:39 GMT | UPDATE

Trump invites Xi to White House 

U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit the White House on 24 September, during a speech at a state banquet in the Chinese capital Beijing.

Trump said that the shared American and Chinese values of work, courage, achievement, love for family and love for country could allow the two countries to create a future of “peace, prosperity and happiness, [a] special world with the two of us united together.”

Trump talked about the long history of ties between the two countries and stressed the importance of their relationship. 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 14 May, 2026.
Reuters
⦿ 10:28 GMT | UPDATE

Chinese and U.S. aims are compatible, Xi says

U.S. President Donald Trump's mission to make America great again and China's aim to achieve the rejunevation of the Chinese nation are compatible, Chinese President Xi Jinping has told a state banquet in Beijing, where Donald Trump is in attendance. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping raises a glass with a drink as he speaks at a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 14 May, 2026.
Reuters
⦿ 10:20 GMT | UPDATE

Chinese leader told Trump he wants to open up China, U.S. Treasury Secretary says 

Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump that he wanted to open up China during their meeting in Beijing, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said. 

It comes as Donald Trump's three-day visit to the Chinese capital continues. 

⦿ 10:07 GMT | UPDATE

Xi tells Trump that mishandling of Taiwan could spark conflict 

Reuters

China's President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that if the Taiwan issue is not handled well, the two countries will clash or even come into conflict, pushing China-U.S. relations into "a very dangerous place", Chinese state media Xinhua reported.

Xi called Taiwan the most important issue in China-U.S. relations in his meeting with Trump, who is in Beijing for a summit with the Chinese leader, according to Xinhua.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory - a claim that Taipei rejects - and opposes U.S. arms sales to the island.

⦿ 08:27 GMT | UPDATE

China's Xi promises U.S. business leaders greater access

Reuters

Chinese President told U.S. CEOs accompanying President Trump on a Beijing visit that China's door would only open wider, and that he believed U.S. companies would have broader prospects in the country, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

Xi met with the delegation of CEOs, including Elon Musk, Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Apple's Tim Cook in the Great Hall of the People, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Trump had said on Tuesday that he would ask Xi to "open up" China during his summit with the leader.

U.S. officials and top CEOs, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook, attend Trump’s welcome ceremony in Beijing, China, 14 May, 2026.
Reuters
 
U.S. officials and top CEOs, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook, attend Trump’s welcome ceremony in Beijing, China, 14 May, 2026.
Reuters
U.S. officials and CEOs gather ahead of Trump’s welcome ceremony in Beijing, China, 14 May, 2026.
Reuters
⦿ 07:51 GMT | UPDATE

Xi hails 'new positioning' in ties with U.S. 

Reuters

China's President Xi Jinping hailed a "new positioning" of bilateral ties with the United States after his summit with President Donald Trump, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Xi said both leaders agreed that building a constructive, strategically stable relationship will provide guidance for bilateral relations in the next three years and beyond. 

⦿ 07:48 GMT | UPDATE

China says it's ready to work with the U.S. on redefining their relationship

Reuters

China is willing to work with the United States to translate the 'new orientation' of China-U.S. relations into actions toward each other, the country's foreign ministry said on Thursday. 

China's Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump at the start of a two-day summit on Thursday that trade talks were making progress but warned that disagreement over Taiwan could send relations down a dangerous path and even lead to conflict.

Tags