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US President Donald Trump is in Beijing for a highly anticipated summit with his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping. It is the first U.S. state visit to China since 2017, during Trump’s first administration. Trade, the Iran war, artificial intelligence and the fate of Taiwan are some of the issues being discussed, although it’s not clear if any new agreements are likely. Trump traveled to China with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, along with a delegation of top U.S. executives including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Elon Musk of Tesla and Jensen Huang of Nvidia.

The summit comes after years of rising hostility between the two superpowers, but leaders recognize the importance of improving the bilateral relationship, says Zhao Hai, director of international political studies at the Institute of World Economics and Politics in Beijing. “This is a very critical historical moment [at] a crossroad, and both sides now are working together to establish a stable relationship that will have a global ramification,” he says.

We also speak with Jake Werner, a historian of modern China and director of the East Asia Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. He says the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and the resulting economic chaos have strengthened China’s position.

“China has ties to all the countries in the region. It has acted in the past to help broker the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran,” says Werner. “So it has some experience in this realm, sort of acting as a broker towards peace.”

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

Trump Arrives in China With Entourage of Tech CEOs

NERMEEN SHAIKH: We begin today’s show in Beijing, where Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are holding a two-day summit focused on the war on Iran, trade, technology and Taiwan. The meeting comes two-and-a-half months after the U.S. and Israel launched an unprovoked war on Iran, triggering what’s been described as the worst energy crisis in history, according to the International Energy Agency. Last week, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Beijing to meet with his Chinese counterpart. China has repeatedly called for the war on Iran to end and for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen.

AMY GOODMAN: During their meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly warned Trump U.S. support of Taiwan could lead to conflict between China and the U.S. China has condemned a proposed U.S. plan to send Taiwan a new arms package worth around $14 billion. Congress approved the arms deal, but Trump has not yet formally moved ahead with it. In public remarks, Xi Jinping called for greater China-U.S. cooperation.

PRESIDENT XI JINPING: [translated] The common interests between China and the United States outweigh our differences, and each country’s success represents an opportunity for the other. A stable China-U.S. relationship benefits the entire world. When we cooperate, both sides benefit. When we confront each other, both sides suffer. We should be partners rather than adversaries, achieving mutual success and common prosperity, thereby forging a correct path for major powers to coexist in the new era.

PRESIDENT XI JINPING: [translated] The common interests between China and the United States outweigh our differences, and each country’s success represents an opportunity for the other. A stable China-U.S. relationship benefits the entire world. When we cooperate, both sides benefit. When we confront each other, both sides suffer. We should be partners rather than adversaries, achieving mutual success and common prosperity, thereby forging a correct path for major powers to coexist in the new era.

AMY GOODMAN: In his remarks, President Trump praised the Chinese President Xi Jinping.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: You and I have known each other now for a long time, in fact, the longest relationship of our two countries that any president and president has had. And that’s, to me, an honor. We’ve had a fantastic relationship. We’ve gotten along. When there were difficulties, we worked it out. I would call you, and you would call me. And whenever we had a problem — people don’t know — whenever we had a problem, we worked that out very quickly. We’re going to have a fantastic future together. Such respect for China, the job you’ve done. You’re a great leader. I say it to everybody. You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true. I only say the truth.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: You and I have known each other now for a long time, in fact, the longest relationship of our two countries that any president and president has had. And that’s, to me, an honor. We’ve had a fantastic relationship. We’ve gotten along. When there were difficulties, we worked it out. I would call you, and you would call me. And whenever we had a problem — people don’t know — whenever we had a problem, we worked that out very quickly. We’re going to have a fantastic future together. Such respect for China, the job you’ve done. You’re a great leader. I say it to everybody. You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true. I only say the truth.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: President Trump traveled to China with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, along with a delegation of top U.S. executives, including Apple CEO Tim Cook,........

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