Trump wraps up China visit and holds private meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping
US President Donald Trump He wrapped up his visit to Beijing with a private meeting with the Chinese leader on Friday Xi Jinping at his official residence before leaving for Washington.
During a series of meetings and events on Thursday, the two discussed divisive issues such as the Iran war. trade, technology and Taiwan.
During these meetings, Trump said Xi told him: China wants to help negotiations to end the war and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. China is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil and Trump is hoping Xi will use this advantage Encouraging Iran to reach a deal on US terms. Trump also said Xi assured him that China was Military equipment will not be provided to Iran.
Trump took a decidedly positive view of US-China relations during this trip. But this has collided with some difficult realities about some of the most intractable issues between the two superpowers, including Taiwan, the Iran war and trade.
At the summit filled with pomp and adulation, Xi warned Trump that differences over Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own territory, could lead the United States and China into conflict or conflict. Trump is empowered $11 billion arms package to Taiwan in December, but there was no progress on delivery. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned later Thursday that China taking Taiwan by force would be a “terrible mistake.”
Trump also focused on trade opportunities China to buy more agricultural goods and passenger planes, form a board to address differences and prevent trade war from repeating fired last year After Trump’s tariff increases.
Here is the latest situation:
Trump heading for more talks with Xi
The president’s motorcade headed to Zhongnanhai, China’s central leadership compound next to the Forbidden City in Beijing.
Its gardens will host Trump and Xi posing for an official photo of Trump’s trip and then heading to a working tea.
The two are also expected to have a closed-door lunch before Trump leaves to return to Washington on Friday afternoon.
Trump says US turning away Chinese students would be ‘very humiliating’
The Trump administration announced last year that it would begin canceling the visas of some Chinese students, including those with ties to the Communist Party or those studying in critical fields.
Asked about the issue in a Fox News interview, Trump said, “Frankly, I think it’s good for people to come from other countries and learn about our culture, and a lot of them want to stay here.”
Almost a quarter of all foreign students at U.S. colleges and universities in the 2023-2024 school year (about 270,000) were from China.
“If you want a university system to die, take out half a million people,” Trump said in the interview, referring to the figure of 500,000 Chinese students.
“It’s something I always look at. But it’s such an insulting thing to tell a country that we don’t want your people in our schools,” he said.
Trump and Xi to meet in Zhongnanhai
Next to Beijing’s Forbidden City lies a secret compound wrapped around two man-made lakes built for the pleasure of emperors.
Today, Zhongnanhai, or “central and southern seas,” is synonymous with China’s center of power, as it is the main residence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the headquarters of the central government.
Zhongnanhai is often compared to the White House, the Kremlin or South Korea’s Blue House. However, unlike other presidential residences, Zhongnanhai does not serve as the main venue for diplomatic visits.
China’s top leaders reserve extremely secure territory only for their closest allies and hand-picked dignitaries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Xi calls his closest friend, was received at Zhongnanhai at least twice in 2024 and 2025.
Xi also welcomed former US President Barack Obama to Zhongnanhai in 2014. The two leaders went for an evening walk and had dinner.
The tiger bag worn by Musk’s son went viral in China
Elon Musk’s 6-year-old son showed up at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday wearing Chinese-style clothing and a tiger bag that has since gone viral in China.
The tiny tiger-head crossbody bag is produced by artisan brand YASTEE, which works with embroiderers in southern China to make handcrafted items.
According to local media reports, it takes several days to hand-make and decorate a bag similar to the one worn by Musk’s son.
The bag went viral on Chinese social media and sold out within hours on the company’s online stores.
Trump says some US business leaders met with Xi for first time
The president said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he asked them to attend his meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People, even though they were not scheduled to attend.
Trump said American company executives were near the building and said, “I think I can get them in five minutes.”
Trump did not specify which executives attended, but said they introduced themselves, said a few words and appeared to impress Xi. Most of them have never met the Chinese president, he said.
“He actually said it was very good. It was a good idea,” Trump said of Xi. “But it’s five
Trump says he spoke with Xi about US credit card companies’ access to China
Trump, whose delegation to participate in the trip included the CEOs of Mastercard and Visa, also said that Xi came to the agenda as US-based credit card companies expanded their access to the Chinese market.
“‘How about using a Visa in China?'” Trump said in a Fox News interview. I said. “They were blacklisted for a reason and maybe this will work.”
China allows foreign cards to be linked to instant payment apps such as Alipay and WeChat Pay. However, physical card usage is mainly limited to international hotels, luxury shopping malls and some upscale restaurants.
Visa and Mastercard have long pushed to reach Chinese consumers and businesses in the world’s second-largest economy.
Trump raises Jimmy Lai release with Xi
Trump asked for the release of Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old former newspaper publisher and pro-democracy activist serving a 20-year prison sentence in Hong Kong, during his meeting with Xi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with NBC News on Thursday.
Rubio said, “We want him to be released. As long as his freedom is given, we will be open to any arrangement that will benefit them.”
Lai was the publisher of Apple Daily, a tabloid critical of Chinese and Hong Kong government officials.
Trump describes Xi as ‘warm’ but not prone to small talk
“He’s all business,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in an interview recorded after his meeting with the Chinese leader on Thursday. “No games. No mention of how nice the weather is.”
Trump said Xi was a “very smart person” and they had a “good relationship.”
“It’s all about China,” Trump said.
Trump says Iran goes back and forth about US producing ‘nuclear dust’
The president suggested during the Fox News interview that Irian officials had initially “said very strongly” that the United States could send teams to collect hundreds of pounds of enriched uranium believed to be buried beneath nuclear sites that were heavily damaged in U.S. military strikes last year.
However, he later said that Iran backed down.
“They accept it. They take it back. They accept it, you know it’s back and forth,” he said.
Whether Iran will be willing to give up enriched uranium is key in negotiations to end the war.
Trump has long insisted that Tehran is willing to do so, but Iran has largely denied such claims.
Trump added that during the interview, Iran said only the United States and China have sufficient technology to extract enriched uranium, given that it is buried underground.
Trump describes Xi as ‘warm’ but not prone to small talk
“He’s all business,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in an interview recorded Thursday after his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. “No games. No mention of how nice the weather is.”
Trump said Xi was a “very smart person” and they had a “good relationship.”
“It’s all about China,” Trump said.
Trump wraps up stormy Beijing visit
Trump and Xi are scheduled to hold more talks on Friday.
The two are set to spend time together at Xi’s official residence in Beijing before Trump returns to Washington.
Trump took a decidedly positive view of US-China relations during this trip. But this is at odds with some difficult truths about some of the most intractable issues between the two superpowers, including Taiwan, the Iran war and trade issues.
US farmers hope Trump negotiates more soybean purchases
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC that “there will be some agricultural purchases” as a result of this trip.
U.S. soybean farmers have been hit particularly hard by Trump’s trade war with China and have called on him to persuade Beijing to buy more crops.
China is on track to meet its commitment to purchase 12 million metric tons (13.2 million tons) of U.S. soybeans this year; however, this is well below the 25 million to 30 million metric tons (27.5 million to 33 million tons) purchased in previous years.
China, the largest foreign buyer of US soybeans, completely stopped buying soybeans last year after Trump increased tariffs on all Chinese goods. After Trump met with Xi in October, the White House said China had agreed to buy 12 million metric tons.
The American Soybean Association hopes Trump can agree an additional 8 million metric tons (8.8 million tons) by August 31.
