WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan at the White House for a state dinner, saying ties between the two nations have strengthened despite differences in their systems.
Recalling his visit to Beijing, Trump said the hospitality of the Chinese people was “on full display” and expressed hope that the US would extend the same honour during Xi’s visit to Washington.
“This is a great honour. President Xi, Madam Peng and members of the Chinese delegation, Melania and I are delighted to welcome you once again to the White House. You are truly outstanding, amazing people. The hospitality of the Chinese people was on full display during my visit to Beijing. We hope to show you the same honour as you returned to Washington for the first time in over a decade”, he said.
Trump said both leaders understood the differences between their nations while emphasising the importance of maintaining strong ties between the two countries.
“As the leaders of our two nations, President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure, and we’ve never gotten along better…Together, we can continue to build a relationship that promotes prosperity and security for future generations”, Trump said.
Trump gifted Xi Jinping a bald eagle statue during the state dinner hosted at the White House. The approximately three-foot-tall statue, placed on a podium, was designed by an American artist in collaboration with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, according to the President’s remarks at the dinner.
Calling the bald eagle a symbol of the United States, Trump said it represents the country’s “free and soaring spirit” and expressed hope that the statue would be displayed at a prominent location in Beijing.
Legacy media REFUSED to show you a SINGLE SECOND of President Trump’s speech and historic state dinner with Xi Jinping tonight at the White House
So here’s the ENTIRE thing, from start to finish, with translations for Xi’s speech
DO NOT LET LEGACY MEDIA KEEP YOU IN THE DARK pic.twitter.com/jW6KZAFAnL
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 25, 2026
Trump said, “I present President Xi with a gift made by an extraordinary American artist, one of the greatest in the world and designed in personal collaboration with Melania and myself. The bald eagle is a national symbol of the United States and an embodiment of the free and soaring spirit of America. We hope it’ll find a nice place, a wonderful place in Beijing”.
Earlier, Trump took Xi on a tour of the South Lawn of the White House, including an inside look at Marine One (the helicopter carrying the US President) and the newly constructed helipad.
President Xi is on a three-day visit to the US, marking his second meeting with Trump in less than six months. Discussions are expected to focus on bilateral ties and key areas of engagement between Washington and Beijing.
🚨 HAPPENING NOW: President Trump decided to bring Xi Jinping out to the new HELIPAD and show him the inside of Marine One
47 is so freaking proud of that helipad 😆
It’s INCREDIBLE to see how much better Xi’s relationship is with Trump than it was with Obama pic.twitter.com/qF9oXuKMfx
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 24, 2026
Earlier, the two delegations met at the Oval Office of the White House. The Chinese delegation accompanying Xi includes Vice Premier He Lifeng, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, member of the Standing Committee Cai Qi, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng.
Calling on Washington and Beijing to “steer the giant ship of China–US relationship on a steady course,” the Chinese President delivered a broad address at the White House, urging healthy competition, mutual trust, and joint management of artificial intelligence alongside US President Donald Trump.
Against the backdrop of complex geopolitical tensions spanning technological controls, trade tariffs, and regional security, Xi framed the bilateral partnership not merely as a matter of national interest, but as an indispensable pillar of international stability.
Moreover, Washington and Beijing have consented to prolong their bilateral trade truce by an additional two months, moving the final expiration date from November 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027.
Earlier, while addressing the Chinese delegation at the White House, Trump praised the “truly great friendship” built between the two leaders while signalling a heavy focus on trade, technology, and advanced computing. Looking ahead to the formal summit talks, the President framed the agenda around long-term global stability and technological governance.
“During this visit, we will also discuss pressing issues concerning security, technology, and Super Intelligence (SI). The decisions we make in these areas today can promote peace and prosperity for decades and decades to come. If we focus on our common interests, I am confident there is much we can achieve,” Trump added.
Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States will include a series of engagements with Trump at the White House, including bilateral and expanded bilateral meetings, remarks and a state dinner, according to the White House schedule. Talks with Trump are expected to cover trade, technology, critical minerals, and broader US-China relations. (ANI)
