Xi Jinping and Donald Trump Discuss China-U.S. Relations

Xi Jinping, the President of China, and Donald Trump, the President of the United States, held a 100-minute meeting in Busan, South Korea, on October 2025, to discuss the complexities of China-U.S. relations amid global uncertainties. This meeting marked a significant direct engagement between the two leaders, who sought to steer their countries' relationship towards stability.

Xi emphasized the importance of cooperation, using a maritime metaphor to describe the need for both nations to keep their "giant ship" sailing steadily forward. The two leaders have maintained close communication, having spoken on the phone five times since their last meeting.

Their first meeting occurred in 2017, and they have engaged in various high-level interactions, including a state visit to China by Trump. Xi expressed optimism about achieving major positive outcomes in their bilateral relationship, despite acknowledging the potential for strategic miscalculations.

The upcoming meetings are expected to test the ability of both nations to establish equilibrium in their interactions.