Xi Jinping tells Trump ‘we should be partners, not rivals’ at China summit

Xi Jinping told Donald Trump that the pair should be ‘partners, not rivals’, during the US trip to Beijing this week.

Trump began his trip by telling Xi it was an ‘honour’ to be his friend, even as his Chinese counterpart offered a cautionary warning about the risk of a possible clash between the two nations.

‘China and the United States both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation,’ Xi said.

‘We should be partners, not rivals. We should help each other succeed and prosper together and find the right way for major countries to get along well with each other in the new era.’

Despite the friendly remarks, the two leaders still differ on many key issues, including the war in Iran, trade disputes and Washington’s relationship with Taiwan.

In remarks before their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Trump lauded the Chinese president, telling him: ‘You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true.’

Talks have been focused on trade and economy (Picture: Shutterstock)

Xi was darker, expressing hope that the US and China can avoid conflict while saying that history and the world were asking ‘whether the two countries can forge a new model for relations between major powers.’

Economic ties between China and the US are mutually beneficial and win-win in nature, Xi told Trump during their talks.

The Chinese president said facts have shown time and again that there are no winners in trade wars, calling on both sides to jointly sustain the good momentum they have worked hard to build.

The pair chatted after Trump and his US delegates were greeted with a welcome salute and band.

Trump is set to visit the Temple of Heaven, a religious complex dating to the 15th century that symbolises the relationship between heaven and earth.

The White House has insisted that Trump would not be making the trip without an eye toward securing results before he leaves.

There could be announcements coming on trade, including a Chinese commitment to buy US soybeans, beef and aircraft.

The visit has been filled with pomp and circumstance (Picture: Shutterstock)

Trump administration officials also want to work toward establishing a Board of Trade with China to address commercial differences between the countries.

But neither side has yet to offer concrete details on what might come of the three-day visit, at a time when Beijing’s close economic ties to Iran could complicate matters.

Looming large is the status of Taiwan, given that China is displeased with US plans to sell weapons to the self-governing island that the Chinese government claims as part of its territory.

The Trump administration has approved a £8.1 billion weapons package for Taiwan, but has yet to begin fulfilling it.

Taiwan is the world’s leading chipmaker, producing components essential to the development of artificial intelligence. Trump has sought to bolster trade deals with Taiwan.

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