On Thursday, 25 September 2026, President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House for a formal state dinner, marking a high‑profile encounter between the leaders of the world’s two most powerful economies.
During his remarks, Xi stressed that both nations “must act as responsible major countries to meet the expectations of our peoples,” while Trump raised a glass to a future of “harmony, peace and success” for the United States and China.
The evening gathered billionaire business leaders, senior officials from the Trump administration and top U.S. technology CEOs. Outside the venue, a small group of demonstrators shouted slogans; several were taken into custody by police.
Addressing the assembled guests late in the night, Trump thanked Xi for the long journey and declared that the personal rapport between the two men had never been stronger, adding, “We've never gotten along better.” He highlighted the long history of U.S.–China ties before veering off script to promote his upcoming ballroom project, offering the Chinese delegation the honor of being the first to walk the unfinished space, which is slated for completion in about a year.
In a symbolic gesture, Trump presented Xi and his wife with a bronze bald‑eagle sculpture, describing it as embodying “the free and soaring spirit of America.” He noted that he and First Lady Melania had helped design the piece and hoped it would find a prominent place in Beijing.
Xi responded by thanking his hosts for the “meticulous care and consideration” shown to him and his wife, saying they felt truly at home. He described the meeting as a historic step in bilateral engagement, affirming a commitment to “strategic stability” and recalling the alliance forged during World War II and the later “ping‑pong” diplomacy.
Concluding his speech, Xi urged both sides to explore a “new approach for major countries to get along,” suggesting that their respective goals could be “mutually reinforcing.” While the rhetoric was warm, analysts cautioned that concrete progress on contentious issues remains limited.
Among the guests, SpaceX chief Elon Musk entertained the crowd with a lively anecdote, drawing laughter from nearby attendees as the evening unfolded.
Image: bbc.co.uk
📰 Source: BBC World