Trump, Xi Wrap Up Beijing Summit With Few Breakthroughs As Iran War Overshadows Trade Talks
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up a closely watched summit in Beijing on Friday with both sides publicly emphasizing cooperation, even as major disagreements over Taiwan, Iran and trade remained unresolved after two days of talks.
Trump described the summit as productive and said the two governments had made progress on trade and security discussions. Xi, meanwhile, used the visit to present China as a central diplomatic power capable of influencing global conflicts and economic stability.
Speaking before leaving Beijing, Trump said Xi had expressed support for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping route disrupted by the conflict involving Iran. Trump said Xi “would also like to see the Hormuz Strait open,” according to remarks previously highlighted in reporting by IBT.
Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington and Beijing agreed the waterway should not be militarized, while U.S. officials also opposed any toll system for ships crossing the strait.
According to Reuters, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said China has a strong economic interest in restoring stable passage through Hormuz because of its dependence on imported oil. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer separately said China wanted the route reopened without restrictions or additional fees.
Despite the public display of cooperation, the summit produced few major deliverables. Reuters reported that Trump left Beijing without significant progress on trade disputes or firm commitments from China regarding Iran.
The summit’s tone shifted at times as Taiwan resurfaced as a major flashpoint between the two countries. Xi warned Trump that mishandling the Taiwan issue could push relations into a “dangerous place” and potentially lead to conflict, according to comments reported by Reuters.
Trump did not publicly challenge Xi’s remarks on Taiwan during the summit. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later said longstanding U.S. policy toward Taiwan remained unchanged.
Trade discussions also remained largely broad and symbolic. Trump claimed China would purchase 200 Boeing aircraft and increase imports of American agricultural products and energy supplies, though neither government released formal agreements detailing the scope or timing of those commitments.
Chinese officials used the summit to highlight Beijing’s role as a global economic power and present the relationship with Washington as one between equals. The Washington Post reported that Chinese state media heavily emphasized the ceremonial aspects of Trump’s visit, including Xi’s rare invitation for Trump to tour Zhongnanhai, the leadership compound at the center of Communist Party power.
The meetings also included discussions involving artificial intelligence, technology controls and access for American companies operating in China. Earlier during the visit, Xi met with business leaders including Elon Musk and other technology executives, where he said China would continue opening its economy to foreign investment.
The Iran war remained a constant backdrop throughout the summit. U.S. intelligence assessments cited earlier this week concluded that China has attempted to use the conflict to expand its influence across diplomatic, economic and strategic areas while Washington remains heavily focused on military operations tied to Iran.
Even with the unresolved disputes, both governments framed the summit as an effort to stabilize relations during a volatile period in global politics. Trump repeatedly praised Xi during the visit, calling him “all business,” while Xi stressed the importance of avoiding direct confrontation between the world’s two largest economies.
