New equilibrium: on the recalibration of U.S.-China ties
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a summit in Washington that resulted in modest outcomes, including a commitment to further dialogue on AI and trade. While no major trade deals were signed, both leaders agreed to maintain a constructive relationship despite structural rivalries.
Why it matters
The meeting signals a potential recalibration of U.S.-China relations, moving toward a 'new equilibrium' characterized by managed competition rather than open hostility.
On the surface, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Washington visit appeared to be more about ceremony than substance. President Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet, personally welcoming the Chinese leader at the base where he landed. The last time that a U.S. President accorded such an honour to a foreign leader was when John F. Kennedy welcomed British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan in 1962. Mr. Trump also laid out a grand state dinner at the White House , inviting some of the biggest names in tech and business in the U.S. Beyond the optics, the concrete outcomes from the Trump-Xi talks were modest. The most immediate one was an agreement for both leaders to meet twice this year at the APEC summit in Shenzhen and the G-20 in Miami , marking an unusual four meetings in one year, with Mr. Trump having visited Beijing in May.
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