Trump and Xi Seek Stable US-China Ties as Summit Ends With Few Major Breakthroughs

US President Donald Trump will conclude Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington on Friday with a tour of the US National Archives, following a summit that emphasised the stability of bilateral relations but produced limited signs of major agreements.

The leaders’ White House meeting on Thursday highlighted areas of potential cooperation, including artificial intelligence, while Trump pointed to progress under a bilateral trade mechanism and increased access for US farmers and ranchers to Chinese markets.

Taiwan remained a significant issue. Xi urged Washington to handle the Taiwan question cautiously, while Chinese officials reiterated Beijing’s opposition to Taiwan independence. The United States maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan and is legally required to provide the island with defensive capabilities.

The summit comes as Washington and Beijing seek to manage trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. China’s large trade surplus and disagreements over technology, security and market access continue to complicate relations.

Both governments have also shown interest in maintaining a degree of economic stability, while artificial intelligence has emerged as a potential area for cooperation.

The National Archives visit is expected to place greater emphasis on the historical relationship between the two countries as Xi’s US trip draws to a close.