US President Donald Trump's three-day visit to China is being interpreted by analysts as a move toward a more pragmatic relationship between the two superpowers, setting aside the tensions that marked 2025. Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, accompanied by a delegation of top American CEOs from Apple, Nvidia, BlackRock, and Goldman Sachs.

The meeting came just over six months after the two leaders agreed to a one-year pause in the US-China trade war. Despite his frequent criticism of China's economic policies at home, Trump appeared to get along with Xi, calling him a "friend" and stating that the bilateral relationship "is going to be better than ever before."

The White House readout emphasized common ground, noting discussions on expanding market access for American businesses in China and increasing Chinese investment in US industries. Notably absent was any mention of China's export controls on rare earths, critical materials for tech, defense, and energy sectors, which China largely controls.

Analysts point out that both leaders sidestepped controversial issues like Taiwan. Xi reportedly called Taiwan the "most important issue" in US-China relations, warning that mishandling it could lead to "clashes and even conflicts." However, neither side's readout indicated whether Trump discussed Taiwan or the potential $14 billion arms deal to the island.

On Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, the US readout claimed both leaders agreed the strait must remain open and that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon. However, China's readout omitted this entirely, reflecting ongoing disagreements. Analysts suggest the summit's main achievement was establishing a floor for the relationship to prevent uncontrolled escalation.

Source: www.aljazeera.com