Trump welcomes Xi Jinping to White House, highlights ‘great friendship’

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 25, 2026

Photo courtesy: Dawn

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday for a state visit, describing their relationship as a “truly great friendship” as the two leaders opened high-level talks.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump received Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, during a formal State Arrival Ceremony at the White House on Sept. 24. The ceremony was followed by opening remarks and talks between the U.S. and Chinese delegations.

“From the time of my first election in 2016, President Xi and I have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually, built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people,” Trump said before the formal discussions.

Xi, meanwhile, called for the United States and China to manage their differences and maintain what he described as healthy competition between the world’s two largest economies.

The visit comes four months after Trump traveled to China, where Xi hosted him in Beijing.

Trump took part in an official welcome ceremony and bilateral meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People on May 14, followed by a state banquet. The White House later said the two leaders agreed during that visit that Xi would travel to Washington in the fall.

Xi and Peng arrived in the United States on Sept. 23, when Trump personally greeted them at Joint Base Andrews ahead of the formal White House program the following day.

The two leaders entered their latest talks with several major issues affecting U.S.-China relations, including trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and advanced technology. Associated Press reported that the two countries had also agreed to extend an existing trade truce by two months as negotiations toward a longer-term arrangement continue.

The state visit also includes a dinner hosted by Trump and the first lady at the White House, attended by members of the two countries’ official delegations as well as business and government leaders.

Xi’s visit marks his first U.S. state visit in more than a decade, according to the White House.