Beijingers eye Xi-Trump summit for trade relief, stable ties

Beijing residents are optimistic that President Xi Jinping's meeting with US President Donald Trump will help stabilize relations between the two nations, as a trade war is detrimental to all parties involved. During their state visit in Washington, the leaders are expected to touch on various topics, including artificial intelligence, trade, and Iran.

A 59-year-old resident named Huang emphasized that the visit is crucial for shaping the relationship between China and the United States, expressing hope for long-term, stable, and mutually beneficial development. Beijing residents spoke to for this report were hopeful that Xi's meeting with Trump would ease trade pressures that have been exacerbated by a trade war, which reached a peak in 2025 before a fragile truce was reached in October.

Finance worker Lu Hao, who has been affected by the trade war, is eagerly watching for any economic agreements following the summit. He noted that the trade war had a detrimental impact on the global stock markets, stating, "It became clear that a trade war is a lose-lose situation."

Dongsi Street in Beijing. Photo: Daniel Case/Wikicommons. Lucy Lu, a 43-year-old foreign trade services industry professional, echoed the same sentiment, stating that when major powers clash, "it hurts everyone." She emphasized the need for a friendly approach to tariffs, as higher tariffs have made it difficult for export businesses to ship goods.

Artificial intelligence is likely to be a key topic in the talks, as both countries vie for dominance in technology and robotics. While competition may still outweigh agreements, Huang believes that AI competition should be healthy and rational, rather than malicious. He expects Xi to remain firm on sensitive issues like Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory and has threatened to seize by force.