US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping struck an optimistic tone at a state banquet in Beijing on Thursday, after holding what both leaders described as wide-ranging talks during Trump’s visit to China.
Speaking at the banquet, Xi said he had an “in-depth exchange of views” with Trump earlier in the day and said both leaders believe China-US ties are “the most important bilateral ties in the world.”
Xi also said China’s national rejuvenation and Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda can “go hand in hand,” framing the relationship between the world’s two largest economies as one that could benefit both sides.
Trump also praised the discussions, describing them as “extremely positive and constructive.” He said the US-China relationship is “one of the most consequential in world history.”
The banquet came after Trump and Xi held talks in Beijing during a high-profile summit focused on stabilizing relations between Washington and Beijing, with trade, technology, Taiwan and global security issues among the key topics on the agenda.