Trump, Xi wrap up summit claiming progress stabilizing US-China
relations but differences persist
[May 15, 2026]
By AAMER MADHANI, WILL WEISSERT and SIMINA MISTREANU
BEIJING (AP) — Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping wrapped up
critical talks on Friday, claiming important progress in stabilizing
U.S.-China relations even as deep differences persist between the
world’s two biggest powers on Iran, Taiwan and more.
Xi welcomed Trump at his official residence, Zhongnanhai, on Friday for
their final engagement of the summit before the U.S. leader’s return to
Washington. The leaders took a short walk through the grounds that
feature ancient trees and Chinese roses, and strolled through a covered
passageway with green columns and archways painted with birds and
traditional Chinese mountain scenes.
Over tea and lunch, Trump and Xi — with top aides and translators in tow
— huddled for nearly three hours of talks before the U.S. leader
completed his three-day visit to China.
“It’s been really a great couple of days,” Trump told reporters.
Xi, for his part, called it a “milestone” visit. “We have established a
new bilateral relationship, or rather a constructive, strategic, stable
relationship,” he said.
But the optimistic outlook collides with some difficult truths about the
thorniest issues between the two superpowers.
Beijing has shown little public interest in U.S. entreaties to get more
involved in solving the conflict in Iran, even though Trump said in an
interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity that Xi had in their conversations
offered to help. In recent weeks, the U.S. State Department has accused
Chinese firms of providing satellite imagery to the Iranian government
and the Treasury Department has moved to target Chinese oil refineries
accused of buying oil from Tehran, as well as shippers of the oil.
And the White House believes China can still do more to stem the flow of
Chinese-made precursor chemicals into Mexico used to make illicit
fentanyl that has wreaked havoc on many U.S. communities.
Xi, meanwhile, warned Trump during private talks that their differences
on the self-ruled island of Taiwan, if handled poorly, could hurtle the
world's dominant powers toward “clashes and even conflicts,” according
to Chinese government officials.
Trump appeared impressed by the bucolic grounds, remarking the roses
were the most beautiful he had ever seen. Xi promised to send him some
rose seeds.
The compound is wrapped around two artificial lakes that had been built
for the pleasure of emperors. Zhongnanhai is often compared to the White
House, the Kremlin or South Korea’s Blue House. But unlike the other
presidential residences, Zhongnanhai does not serve as the main venue
for diplomatic visits. The invitation appeared to be an attempt by Xi to
extend a personal touch to a U.S. leader who appreciates big gestures.
“I think he’s a warm person, actually. But he’s all business,” Trump
said of Xi in the Fox News interview. “There’s no games.”
The Chinese government also bid farewell to Trump with great pomp.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi saw a smiling Trump off at the airport.
And schoolchildren dressed in Air Force One's light blue and white
colors waved American and Chinese flags in a coordinated movement as the
U.S. president arrived to board the plane.
Taiwan remains the most important issue for China
Xi's sharp language on Taiwan loomed large over the visit, with Chinese
government officials amplifying that differences on the self-ruled
island pose the biggest risk to U.S.-Chinese relations.
But Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News that U.S. policy toward
Taiwan was “unchanged” and cautioned that it would be “a terrible
mistake” for China to try to take Taiwan by force. He also framed Xi's
comments as standard practice.
“They always raise it on their side. We always make clear our position,
and we move on to the other topics,” said Rubio, who was among senior
aides to join Trump for the talks.
China in recent weeks has sought to put more focus on its view that
Taiwan sits at the “core” of its interests and is key to ensuring a
stable relationship with the U.S. Trump at moments has shown ambivalence
toward Taiwan, raising speculation that he could be open to loosening
ties with Taipei.
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U.S. President Donald Trump, left, speaks as he is greeted by
Chinese President Xi Jinping at Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing,
China, Friday, May 15, 2026. (Evan Vucci/Pool Photo via AP)
Trump has demanded Taiwan increase defense spending, and in
December, the White House announced an $11 billion weapons package
for Taiwan, the largest ever to the island democracy.
But the U.S. has yet to begin fulfilling the arms sales, and Trump
had said he expected to discuss the matter with Xi in Beijing. He’s
also groused that Taiwan “stole” America’s semiconductor business
and called on Taiwan to pay the U.S. for protection.
China wants the Strait of Hormuz opened
The leaders agreed that the Strait of Hormuz — effectively closed
since the start of the Iran conflict — needs to be reopened to
support global energy demands About 20% of the world’s oil flowed
through the strait before the war started on Feb. 28.
“We feel very similar about (how) we want it to end,” the president
said with Xi at this side. “We don’t want them to have a nuclear
weapon.”
White House officials say Xi was also opposed to any implementation
of tolls on vessels crossing the strait and expressed interest in
China potentially purchasing U.S. oil to reduce Chinese dependence
on Gulf oil in the future.
Trump earlier this week had downplayed the importance of talks with
Xi on the 11-week-old Iran war that has led to surging energy prices
and threatens to plunge the global economy into recession if the
conflict does not conclude soon.
But before Air Force One could land in Beijing, Rubio said
administration officials would make the case to the Chinese
officials about why they should be invested in prodding Iran to come
to terms to end the war.
Indeed, the Chinese, who have been critical of the U.S. and Israeli
bombardment of Iran, hold unique leverage as Iran’s biggest trading
partner. The Chinese government has managed to weather the economic
damage caused by the war with the help of its strategic oil
reserves, but that backstop is not limitless. Economists say the
Iran conflict could still have a big impact on China’s export-driven
economy.
Will Trump announce any major business deals?
The White House, ahead of the visit, insisted that Trump wouldn’t be
making the trip without an eye toward securing results before he
leaves, suggesting there could be announcements coming on trade.
Trump says some “fantastic trade deals” had been struck during the
visit, but did not offer further details
The U.S. side had been hoping to nail down Chinese commitments to
buy U.S. soybeans and beef. Trump told Fox News that Xi had
indicated a commitment for China to buy 200 Boeing jets from the
U.S.
The leaders on Thursday discussed increasing U.S. agricultural
purchases by the Chinese and opportunities for both sides to expand
investment into each other's markets, according to the White House.
Trump administration officials also want to work toward establishing
a Board of Trade with China to address commercial differences
between the countries.
Trump, whose delegation for the trip included the CEOs of Mastercard
and Visa, said he also raised with Xi expanding access to the China
market for the U.S.-based credit card companies.
___
Mistreanu reported from Bangkok. Associated Press writers Huizhong
Wu in Bangkok, Darlene Superville and Josh Boak in Washington
contributed to this report.
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