What did Trump and Xi achieve in Beijing?

The American and Chinese presidents talked Iran, Taiwan, and trade, but found little to agree on US President Donald Trump’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, was heavy on pomp, praise, and promises. But what did both leaders walk away with after the superpower summit in Beijing? Trump left Beijing on Friday, two days after becoming the first US president to visit the Chinese capital in almost a decade. The trip took place amid two paused conflicts – Trump’s trade war with Beijing and his real war against Iran – which directly affect China, and although both leaders hailed positive developments in their relationship, differing statements from the two sides suggest that these issues and others remain unresolved. Xi gives Trump a royal welcome From the military honors and red carpet that greeted Trump on Wednesday, to the garden tour of Xi’s Zhongnanhai compound on Friday morning, the Chinese president was a gracious host throughout. At a lavish banquet on Thursday, Xi declared that “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand.” READ MORE: Trump-Xi summit begins in Beijing (VIDEOS) Trump returned the favor, telling Xi that the welcome ceremony was “an honor like few I’ve ever seen before,” and that the roses in the gardens of Zhongnanhai were “the most beautiful roses anyone has ever seen.” A lifelong teetotaler, Trump went as far as taking a sip of wine when Xi proposed a toast at the banquet. US President Donald Trump makes a toast during a state banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, May 14, 2026, Beijing, China. © Getty Images / Alex Wong Ahead of bilateral talks on Friday, Trump claimed that he and Xi had “settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to settle, and the relationship is a very strong one.” Did Trump and Xi reach breakthrough on Taiwan? Amid the optics and pageantry, few observers expected any progress on Taiwan – the longest-running unresolved issue between Washington and Beijing.

Xi maintains that Taiwan’s reunification with the Chinese mainland is “inevitable,” while the US has followed a policy of strategic ambiguity since the 1970s. It accepts but does not endorse Beijing’s claim to the island. Read more Xi promised not to send military equipment to Iran – Trump According to China’s Foreign Ministry, Xi warned Trump that “the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” and “if mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict.” Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump said that he and Xi “talked a lot” about Taiwan, and about a planned US arms sale to Taipei this year. “I made no commitment either way,” Trump added. The US president then said that Xi had asked him whether he’d use the US military to defend Taiwan. In keeping with the US’ policy of ambiguity, Trump said that he replied “I don’t talk about that.” “I’m not looking to have somebody go independent,” Trump said in a Fox News interview aired on Friday. “And, you know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war? I’m not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down.” What did they say about Iran? Trump emerged from talks with Xi claiming victory on the issue of Iran, with his own comments and White House statements suggesting that Beijing would help push Iran into a peace deal that favors the US. “We did discuss Iran,” Trump said on Friday. “We feel very similar about [how] we want it to end. We don’t want