Trump, Xi tout US-China friendship at White House amid sharp divisions

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the White House to reinforce their friendship and discuss expanding cooperation, with a focus on managing artificial intelligence risks. Trump declared the meeting a "great one" and expressed hope for further collaboration, while Xi emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence and urged both nations to develop AI responsibly under human control.

Despite ongoing disagreements over critical issues such as artificial intelligence, Taiwan, and Iran, both leaders emphasized their commitment to maintaining a stable U.S.-China relationship. The summit aimed to address national security concerns and AI issues, among other topics. Trump and Xi both hoped to extend their fragile trade truce by two months, with the agreement expiring on January 10, 2023.

The visit underscores the mutual desire for high-level engagement despite increasing political, economic, and technological tensions between the two nations, particularly before the November midterm elections.