Xi Urges Trump to Manage US-China Rivalry Peacefully

AFP

The Presidents of US and China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged his US counterpart, Donald Trump, to ensure that the rivalry between Beijing and Washington is managed peacefully, as the US president hosted the Chinese leader at the White House with a lavish reception.

While Trump praised what he described as a “truly great friendship” with Xi, the Chinese president used the state visit to outline Beijing’s positions on artificial intelligence, Taiwan and the prospect of a conflict involving Iran.

Beneath the ceremony and symbolic gestures—including Trump accompanying Xi aboard the presidential helicopter, Marine One—the talks centred on the tensions that continue to divide the world’s two largest economies.

Speaking before his discussions with Trump at the White House, Xi said the two countries must ensure they “do not fall into conflict or confrontation”.

While Trump has repeatedly played down concerns over the potential threat posed by artificial intelligence to humanity, Xi struck a more cautious tone, stressing the need for human oversight.

“We have the shared capacity and responsibility to develop and manage artificial intelligence in a way that serves the public good, and to ensure its development remains under human oversight,” Xi said.

Trump, meanwhile, adopted a notably cordial tone, underscoring his long-standing efforts to cultivate ties with the Chinese leader.

“By working together, President Xi and I have made tremendous progress on the issues facing our two countries,” Trump said.

He added: “During this visit, we will also discuss pressing issues regarding security, technology, and ‘super-intelligence’”—a term he has increasingly used in reference to artificial intelligence.

However, during their subsequent meeting in the Oval Office, Xi urged Trump to exercise “caution” over Taiwan’s independence. Beijing regards the self-governing island as part of its territory, making it a major flashpoint in US-China relations.

Amid reports that Chinese entities had provided satellite imagery and other intelligence support to Iran during the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, Xi also called on Trump to bring the dispute to an end “through negotiation as soon as possible”.

No major breakthroughs are expected from Xi’s state visit. Instead, the occasion is likely to be dominated by ceremony and pageantry as the world’s two largest economies seek to manage their increasingly complex rivalry.


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