Trump concludes China visit hailing ‘fantastic deals’

United States President Donald Trump wrapped up his China visit saying both sides had agreed “fantastic trade deals” and “settled a lot of problems”, following his second day of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Following a grand ceremonial reception and state banquet on the first day of his visit, Mr. Trump was on Friday (May 15, 2026) hosted by Mr. Xi in the Chinese leadership’s expansive Zhongnanhai compound, where the two leaders walked and drank tea.

“We’ve settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to solve,” Mr. Trump said in his opening remarks, before their private talks. “The relationship is a very strong one.”

“These are two great countries, I call it the G2,” Mr. Trump added in an interview with a U.S. channel aired on Friday, using a term that the Chinese government, officially at least, has not endorsed, and one that other major powers, including India, do not view favourably. 

Mr. Xi said both sides “had reached important common understandings on maintaining stable economic and trade ties, expanding practical cooperation in various fields, and properly addressing each other’s concerns.”

Neither offered specifics on the deals agreed. Mr. Xi said the visit “once again demonstrates that it is a shared aspiration of both peoples and the expectation of people across the world for China and the United States to find a right path to get along with each other and to achieve peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation on the basis of mutual respect.”

“While President Trump hopes to make America great again, I am dedicated to leading the Chinese people toward national rejuvenation,” he said.

Mr. Trump said China had agreed to buy 200 Boeing aircraft – a smaller number than had been anticipated – as well as step up imports of soyabean. China has also agreed to resume imports of U.S. beef.

Both sides on Friday (May 15, 2026) did not share details of any understanding on U.S. access to rare earths – a key issue for U.S. businesses which have called on China to relax its export controls on critical minerals. Beijing put in place restrictions after the U.S. imposed controls on the export of semi-conductors to China.

U.S. officials said 10 Chinese firms had been cleared to purchase Nvidia’s second-most advanced chip.

Another looming issue is U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. It remains unclear how Beijing may respond when U.S. sales, which it once again voiced opposition to, go ahead as expected in coming weeks.

Mr. Xi on Thursday (May 14, 2026) put forward a new maxim for ties, calling for a “constructive relationship of strategic stability”. He again called on both countries to “implement the important common understandings that have been reached, cherish the hard-won positive momentum, keep to the right direction, steer clear of disruptions, and promote the steady development of bilateral relations.”

Those understandings could soon be tested, as both sides now begin the hard part of producing substantive outcomes from a visit that was certainly high on symbolism.