Updated May 15, 2026 — President Trump said Friday that his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing produced what he called “fantastic trade deals” and reflected shared interest in ending the U.S.-Iran conflict, as both governments seek to portray the visit as a step toward stabilizing a fraught relationship after last year’s trade war.
The two presidents held a bilateral meeting at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound, where they met privately for tea, walked in the gardens and shared a working lunch before Mr. Trump departed for Washington. In short remarks before lunch, Trump described the trip as an “incredible visit” and said “a lot of good has come of it,” claiming China had agreed to buy American planes, oil and agricultural goods.
Administration officials and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have said discussions included proposals for closer institutional cooperation — for example, the idea of a U.S.-China “Board of Trade” and a “Board of Investment” to oversee commercial ties — though analysts warned any concrete outcomes so far appear limited in scale. Capital Economics noted that beyond upbeat statements, specific commitments reported publicly remain modest.
Trump also said he and Xi shared similar views on Iran and want the Strait of Hormuz reopened, a chokepoint for global oil shipments that has been effectively closed amid the U.S.-Iran hostilities. The president told reporters aboard Air Force One that Xi indicated he would not supply military equipment to Iran — a claim Trump described as significant — and that Beijing has an interest in helping ease the crisis that has disrupted regional shipping.
On trade, Trump and his aides emphasized pledges by China to purchase U.S. goods, including planes, soybeans and other commodities. It is not yet clear how those commitments will be formalized or how extensive any purchase agreements will be. The two countries are trying to mend ties after a 2025 trade conflict that briefly saw tariffs on more than 100% of some trade flows.
Notably, Trump said he and Xi did not discuss tariffs during the visit. Analysts and trade experts have underscored that removing tariffs and reaching a comprehensive trade framework would be more complicated than bilateral promises about purchases.
The summit produced no clear breakthroughs on Taiwan or on the fate of political prisoners in China. Human rights and democracy advocates have urged more forceful U.S. action on both fronts, but Trump told reporters he made “no commitment either way” on China’s requests to halt U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and said he would make a determination in the near term. Beijing has pressed Washington to stop weapons transfers to Taiwan; the U.S. remains officially opposed to unilateral changes to Taiwan’s status while preserving a policy of strategic ambiguity about defense commitments.
On the case of imprisoned media tycoon Jimmy Lai, Trump said Xi was “giving it serious consideration” but called the situation “a tough one” for the Chinese leader. Trump made no explicit demand for Lai’s release and earlier in the visit had described Lai in critical terms.
Chinese state media described the meetings as “historic” and said the leaders reached important common understandings on keeping economic and trade ties stable, expanding practical cooperation and appropriately addressing each other’s concerns. Xinhua reported the two sides also exchanged views on regional hotspots, and Chinese accounts quoted Xi warning of possible clashes if the Taiwan issue isn’t handled properly.
A wider U.S. delegation included several top business executives. Tesla CEO Elon Musk described the talks as “wonderful,” saying they produced positive results, while Apple CEO Tim Cook gave a thumbs-up to reporters. Those business voices underscored U.S. commercial interest in restoring smoother ties and protecting market access, including continued U.S. access to Chinese rare earth minerals.
Both leaders held an earlier closed-door session that U.S. officials described as substantive. Trump said Xi is expected to visit the United States in September, and both sides framed the trip as progress toward a more stable bilateral relationship.
Despite the upbeat public framing, many questions remain about the scope and enforceability of any trade commitments, the future of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, and whether China will take concrete steps on human rights issues. For now, the summit delivered diplomatic warmth and headline-grabbing promises, but analysts say measurable policy shifts and detailed agreements will be needed before the visit’s gains can be judged lasting.
Reporters Sara Cook and Margaret Brennan contributed to coverage of the trip.