Xi Jinping and Donald Trump Meet After Six Years: Navigating US-China Relations Amid Trade Tensions

Chinese President Xi Jinping and former US President Donald Trump held their first meeting in six years in South Korea, marking a significant diplomatic engagement between the leaders of the world's two largest economies.

During the meeting in Busan, President Xi emphasized that China and the United States must function as partners and friends despite their differences. He acknowledged that friction between the nations is natural but stressed the importance of maintaining relationships on the right trajectory.

"China and the United States can jointly shoulder our responsibility as major countries and work together to accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of our two countries and the whole world," Xi stated during their talks.

The Chinese leader also expressed appreciation for Trump's peace initiatives in global conflict zones. In response, Trump referred to Xi as "a great leader of a great country" and expressed optimism about their future relationship, saying, "I think we're going to have a fantastic relationship for a long period of time, and it's an honour to have you with us."

This significant diplomatic encounter took place at an air base in Busan, representing their first meeting since Trump returned to office in January. The meeting was held alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit amid ongoing trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.

As they shook hands, Trump candidly remarked, "We are going to have a very successful meeting, I have no doubt. But he is a very tough negotiator." Xi maintained a composed demeanor during this exchange.

The meeting occurs against the backdrop of renewed trade conflicts between the two nations. The trade war, which began in 2018, intensified earlier this month when China proposed expanding restrictions on exports of rare-earth minerals crucial for high-technology applications—a sector where China holds significant market dominance.

In response to China's proposed restrictions, Trump threatened to implement additional 100% tariffs on Chinese exports and other measures, including potential limitations on exports to China made with American software—actions that could significantly impact the global economy.

Following intensive negotiations between senior officials from both countries, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated he expected China to postpone the rare earth controls for one year and resume purchases of American soybeans, which are vital for US agricultural interests.

Reports preceding the APEC Summit indicated that China had purchased its first shipments of US soybeans in several months, potentially signaling a willingness to ease tensions in the agricultural trade sector.