Trump calls Xi Jinping “great leader” as high-stakes Beijing talks begin

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have begun talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

Trump described his visit to China as an honour and expressed hope for a “fantastic future” in relations between the two countries, Caliber.Az reports via British media.

“I say it to everybody, you're a great leader,” Trump told Xi, adding that he repeats it even though some people do not like it.

Xi, in turn, said that 2026 should become a historic and defining year for US–China relations.

“The world has come to a new crossroads. Can China and the US overcome the Thucydides trap and create a new paradigm of relations? Can we meet global challenges together and provide more stability for the world? Can we, in the interest of our world, of our two peoples, and the future of humanity, build a brighter future for our bilateral relations?” he added.

Trump’s visit to China is taking place from May 13 to 15. He is accompanied by executives from major US corporations, including leaders of Tesla, Apple, Boeing, Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, BlackRock, and Citigroup.

By Jeyhun Aghazada