Trump Says Xi Visit Shows Renewed Respect for the United States

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews) – President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with first ladies Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan, on the South Portico during Xi’s state visit to Washington last month. (White House)

WASHINGTON (VINnews) — President Donald Trump on Thursday pointed to last month’s visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping as proof that the United States is again being treated with respect abroad.

“President Xi doesn’t come to countries that he doesn’t respect,” Trump said, framing the trip as a sign of America’s standing on the world stage.

Xi’s Sept. 23-25 stay was his first formal visit to Washington in 11 years. Trump broke with recent custom and met him on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, then hosted a military arrival ceremony, a state dinner and a tour that included the National Archives. The two sides agreed to describe the relationship as a “constructive” one of “strategic stability” based on respect, fairness and reciprocity, and extended a trade truce by two months, to Jan. 10, 2027. China also said it would send two giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta.

The pageantry drew wide coverage in China. U.S. analysts were more reserved. Several said the summit produced little movement on the issues that still divide the two countries, including artificial intelligence, Taiwan and trade beyond the short extension. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the sides also identified tariff relief on a limited set of goods and Chinese purchases of U.S. coal, commitments Beijing’s public account did not match in full.

Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng, who took part in the visit, later called the welcome the highest standard of protocol and said the meeting set a new milestone. He also restated Beijing’s “red lines” on Taiwan, its political system and its right to develop.

Trump has repeatedly cast his personal dealings with Xi as the center of the relationship, including after his own trip to Beijing in May. Thursday’s remarks continued that line: the visit itself, he argued, was the evidence that Washington is being taken seriously again.