Opinion:WashingtonandBeijingCanStillAchieveGreatThingsTogether

Donald Trump’s recent state visit to China was his second trip to the country as president, last visiting during his first term in office in 2017. The face-to-face meeting between Trump and President Xi Jinping — tackling bilateral relations alongside pressing issues of global peace and development — has rightfully captured the world’s attention.

In an era of intensifying global turbulence, the strategic significance of the U.S.-China relationship has never been more pronounced. Bilateral interactions at the highest level provide an irreplaceable strategic framework. Beijing’s stance remains clear and consistent: It is ready to work with Washington in a spirit of equality, respect, and mutual benefit to expand cooperation, manage differences, and inject much-needed stability and certainty into a chaotic world.

During their encounter in October in Busan, South Korea, Xi made it clear that the world’s two biggest economies should be “partners and friends” — a mandate driven by both historical precedent and practical necessity. As the world’s leading economies navigating differing national conditions, friction and disagreements are inevitable.

Yet, as Xi noted at the time: “The world today is confronted with many tough problems. China and the United States can jointly shoulder our responsibility as major countries, and work together to accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of our two countries and the whole world.” This commitment to substantial action reflects the duty of a responsible global power and serves as a manifestation of building partnership and friendship.

During their subsequent talks on May 14, Xi emphasized that he and Trump agreed to establish a relationship of “constructive strategic stability” as the new baseline for ties. He pointed out that this relationship “is not a slogan,” but “actions in the same direction.” He further urged both sides to “implement the important common understandings we have reached, and make better use of communication channels in the political and diplomatic and military-to-military fields.” The two countries should “expand exchanges and cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade, health, agriculture, tourism, people-to-people ties and law enforcement.”

The international community has every reason to hope that this Beijing summit will have lengthened the list of collaborative efforts, fostering new conditions to accomplish those major, practical and positive things together.

Looking at the current state of bilateral ties, several key issues demand immediate attention.

First, the two nations must stabilize and improve their economic and trade relationship. Extreme tactics like tariff wars and technological blockades may generate a lot of noise, but they cannot stem the tide of economic cooperation — much less contain China’s rise. Statistically, despite some fluctuations since the trade conflicts initiated during Trump’s previous term, trade between the two nations has remained highly resilient, generally exceeding the levels seen at the onset of those disputes.

Facts consistently prove that both sides gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. The essence of the bilateral economic relationship is mutual benefit; there are no winners in trade or tech wars. Whether it is imposing sanctions on companies like Huawei, actively suppressing the development of the Chinese semiconductor industry, or restricting artificial intelligence (AI), the calculated schemes of certain American politicians have repeatedly fallen flat. Washington must seriously reflect on whether such policies are worth continuing and whether they actually serve U.S. interests.

Economic cooperation remains the ballast of this relationship, and the Chinese market continues to exert immense appeal for American capital. The 2026 China Business Climate Survey Report, published by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, shows that the country remains an indispensable market for corporate America. Fully 52% of surveyed companies still rank the nation among their top three global investment destinations — a four-percentage-point increase from the previous year. Furthermore, 57% plan to increase their investments, while 83% affirm that a stable and constructive bilateral relationship is crucial to their operations. About 79% of surveyed companies hold a positive or neutral outlook on relations in 2026, marking a significant improvement.

It is no coincidence that several prominent executives accompanied Trump on this visit. Market participants also harbor strong expectations for stabilized economic ties. Moving toward one another is precisely what the current moment demands.

Second, both sides must protect corporate rights and respect market choices. In great power rivalries, private enterprises often suffer the heaviest blows. In the American legal context, “long-arm jurisdiction” refers to the power of judicial authorities over individuals or entities residing outside their territorial borders. The rampant abuse of this jurisdiction — combined with extreme pressure campaigns — severely impedes the global trade system, leaving companies lost and burdened. Policymakers must avoid politicizing economic issues, and they must stop weaponizing the concept of national security to enact discriminatory and exclusionary policies.

Finally, we must urgently accelerate people-to-people exchanges. The foundation of the relationship lies with its citizens. The two countries should forge partnerships across a broad spectrum of fields — from technology and AI to public health and cultural exchange — to unlock new avenues of cooperation.

Yet, over the last few years, academic exchanges have fallen off a cliff. Scholars have jointly called for a reversal of this alarming trend. On May 5, China’s ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng said he hoped Washington would promptly resolve the visa and entry “difficulties” plaguing Chinese travelers. He urged authorities to cease selective and discriminatory measures, calling instead for an increase in direct flights to pave a smooth, efficient “fast track” for two-way travel.

There are many other endeavors that can be achieved together, such as establishing global frameworks for AI governance. Undertaking these vital tasks will not only serve the public in both nations but will also alleviate the anxieties of the international community. Through this process of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and reciprocal collaboration, we can forge the right path toward getting along in a new era.