How Trump and Xi's personal relationship impacts foreign policy between the U.S. and China

In a pivotal 2015 state visit to Washington, Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed to assuage American concerns over China's rapid rise. The encounter, marked by a handshake with then-President Barack Obama, resulted in strengthened economic ties and enhanced cooperation between the two nations. This was encapsulated by Obama's statement in the Rose Garden, where he proclaimed the U.S.'s welcome of a China that was "peaceful, stable, prosperous and a responsible player in global affairs."

Fast forward to the present, and the dynamics have changed significantly. On a return visit to the U.S. capital for his first state visit in over a decade, President Xi Jinping, now more self-assured than ever, is striving for stability amidst the escalating competition between the world's two largest economies. This rivalry spans a multitude of areas, including artificial intelligence, space exploration, and global influence.

In a statement, Mira Rapp-Hooper, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution's Center for Asia Policy Studies, highlighted the transformation of China from a "rising power still, profoundly and quickly rising, but rising undeniably" in 2015 to its current status as an unequivocal "risen" power. Both economies have witnessed impressive growth.