Trump and Xi Hold Beijing Summit, Producing Separate Readouts and Modest Deals on Trade and Aviation

President Trump arrived in Beijing on May 14, 2026 for a two-day state visit with Xi Jinping, during which the two leaders toured the Temple of Heaven, met at the Zhongnanhai gardens — described by Reuters as a rare visit — and held a state banquet that was televised. Trump departed on May 15 with no joint statement issued between the two governments.

Both governments subsequently released their own readouts of the summit's outcomes, and analysts identified discrepancies in several areas. Gabriel Wildau, a China analyst with the Teneo advisory group, told NPR that a comparison of those readouts reveals "minor inconsistencies" on issues such as agriculture, tariffs, and rare earths, but said the differences were not significant. The U.S. readout said China agreed to purchase at least $17 billion annually of U.S. agricultural products through 2028; China's readout agreed to improve market access for U.S. agricultural products but did not specify a purchase amount. On Boeing, both sides confirmed China would buy 200 aircraft; China's readout added that the U.S. would guarantee sufficient jet engines and related parts, a detail absent from the U.S. statement.

On rare earth minerals — which the U.S. sought to secure for manufacturing and weapons production — the U.S. readout said China would address supply shortages and sales restrictions. China's readout maintained that its export controls are lawful and that it reviews applications for civilian use on a case-by-case basis, according to NPR. Taiwan was not referenced in official statements from either side, though Trump's subsequent remarks that arms sales to Taiwan are a "very good negotiating chip" drew concern in Taipei, NPR reported.