‘China and the US Should Be Partners, Not Rivals, Says Xi as both Explore Tariff Cuts and Wider Cooperation in Beijing Talks

Email:online@newsofbahrain.com

Beijing: US.President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping struck a conciliatory tone during high-level talks in Beijing on Thursday, as both leaders sought to stabilize relations despite ongoing disputes over trade, Taiwan and global security issues.

Speaking at the Great Hall of the People, Xi said China and the United States ‘should be partners, not rivals,’ stressing that both countries benefit from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Trump responded by praising Xi as a ‘great leader’ and expressed optimism about the future of ties between the two powers.

A major focus of the summit was trade, with both sides reportedly discussing possible tariff cuts on around $30 billion worth of imports. The move is seen as part of a broader ‘managed trade’ strategy aimed at easing economic tensions through selective tariff relief and negotiated trade targets rather than sweeping structural reforms.

Officials are considering lowering tariffs on non-sensitive goods, particularly in sectors such as agriculture and energy, while also restoring some expired exemptions on industrial and medical products.

Alongside trade, the two leaders also discussed artificial intelligence, the wars in Iran and Ukraine, and broader geopolitical concerns. However, Taiwan remained a key point of tension. Xi warned that the issue was the most sensitive aspect of China-US relations and cautioned that mishandling it could trigger conflict between the two nations.

The summit marks Trump’s first visit to China since 2017 and comes amid growing global uncertainty.