US President Donald Trump said the United States and China have “never gotten along better” during a White House state dinner hosted for Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, September 24, as the two leaders sought to project a more cooperative tone in bilateral relations.
Trump welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to the White House for the formal dinner, which followed several hours of talks between the two leaders. In his toast, Trump acknowledged that Washington and Beijing represent different political systems but stressed the enduring relationship between their peoples.
“As the leaders of our two nations, President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure, and we’ve never gotten along better,” Trump said. He added that the two countries could continue building a relationship focused on prosperity and security for future generations.
Xi also adopted a conciliatory tone, saying his discussions with Trump had been “sincere and in-depth” and that the two sides had reached a common understanding on several issues. He said the talks provided what he described as new strategic guidance for China-US relations.
The leaders’ meeting comes against a complicated backdrop. Washington and Beijing continue to have significant differences over trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and other strategic issues. Both sides have also imposed tariffs and faced tensions over technology and supply chains.
Despite those disagreements, the state dinner was designed to emphasize diplomacy and personal engagement. Trump presented Xi with a bald eagle sculpture, describing the American national symbol as representing the “free and soaring spirit of America.”
The dinner also brought together prominent figures from the American technology and business sectors, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Sam Altman, Jensen Huang and other senior executives. The event featured a three-course menu and elaborate red-and-gold decorations in the White House East Room.
Outside the White House, however, protesters demonstrated over China’s policies concerning Tibet and Hong Kong, highlighting the continuing political disagreements surrounding Xi’s visit.
The warm rhetoric from Trump and Xi signals an effort to manage tensions between the world’s two largest economies, although major disagreements remain unresolved. The outcome of their broader talks will determine whether the improved tone translates into concrete agreements on trade, technology and other areas of contention.
