2026 'historic, landmark year' in Sino-US ties: Xi

The leaders of China and the United States opened talks in Beijing on Thursday during US President Donald Trump's state visit. President Xi Jinping said he expects 2026 to be a "historic, landmark year" in bilateral relations. Xi said stability in Sino-US relations is good for the world, and that the two countries must jointly answer questions of our times. "Our meeting has drawn worldwide attention. The world is undergoing rapid changes, a once-in-a-century transformation, and the international landscape is fluid and turbulent," he said, stressing that the world has come to another crossroads. "Can China and the United States overcome the so-called 'Thucydides Trap' and create a new paradigm for major-power relations? Can we work together to address global challenges and inject more stability into the world? Can we promote the well-being of our peoples and the future of humanity, and jointly create a bright future for bilateral relations?" Xi said the two countries should be partners, not rivals, and that their common interests outweigh their differences. Trump, for his part, said he has a good relationship with Xi and looks forward to the talks. "I really look very much forward to our discussion. It's a big discussion. There are those that say this is maybe the biggest summit ever. They can never remember anything like it. I can say in the United States, people aren't talking about anything else," the US president said. "But it's an honour to be with you. It's an honour to be your friend and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before." Before their meeting, Xi held a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People for Trump. Edited by Edmond Fong