BEIJING (May 14, 2026) — In a historic summit described by observers as perhaps the most significant in modern history, President Donald J. Trump and President Xi Jinping met in Beijing to redefine the relationship between the world's two largest powers. Marking nine years since his last visit, President Trump arrived at a time when President Xi declared the world is entering a "new era". Overcoming the "Thucydides Trap" Opening the high-stakes meeting, President Xi Jinping posed profound "questions of history," asking whether China and the United States could overcome the so-called "Thucydides Trap" to create a new paradigm of bilateral relations. Xi emphasized that the common interests of both nations far outweigh their differences and that a stable China-U.S. relationship serves as a "strength for the world". "The two sides should be partners, not rivals," Xi stated, noting that the success of one nation is an opportunity for the other. He underscored that as leaders of great powers, they are responsible for writing a "时代答卷" (answer of the times) that brings happiness and stability to over 8 billion people globally. The "Top 30" and the Rule of Reciprocity President Trump responded with characteristic vigor, bringing with him a delegation of what he described as the "greatest businessmen in the world". Trump revealed that he had invited the top 30 business leaders globally, and every single one accepted the invitation to pay their respects to China. "I didn’t want the second or the third in the company. I wanted only the top," Trump remarked, emphasizing that future trade and business dealings would be "totally reciprocal" on the behalf of the United States. Trump praised Xi as a "great leader" and noted that despite past difficulties, the two have always "worked it out very quickly". 250 Years of History: From "New People" to Fast Food At the state banquet, both leaders leaned heavily into the historical and cultural ties between the two nations: - The "New People": Trump recounted how the first American trading ship arrived in China in 1784, led by Samuel Shaw. At the time, Chinese merchants dubbed the Americans the "New People". - A Shared Journey Forward