Xi calls for partnership over rivalry as China, US presidents meet

Xi Jinping touched down at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday with a message of cooperation, asserting that Beijing and Washington should pursue partnership over rivalry as the two countries navigate their complex relationship.

In a written statement upon arrival, the Chinese president emphasized that both nations are "great countries" with "great peoples," and stressed the potential for finding common ground in what he termed "the new era." Xi noted that he and US President Donald Trump had previously agreed during Trump's May visit to Beijing to build a relationship rooted in "strategic stability," a framework he said should guide future bilateral engagement.

Xi outlined his vision for Sino-American relations as one characterized by cooperation as the primary focus, alongside controlled competition and manageable differences. The relationship, he suggested, should be anchored in promises of mutual peace and stability.

In a notably ceremonial reception, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the military airbase, underscoring the significance both capitals are placing on the high-level talks. The visit represents a critical moment in bilateral relations between the world's two largest economies as they seek to manage their strategic competition while identifying areas of mutual interest.