Chinese President Xi Jinping met with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The meeting occurred during Mr. Trump's visit to China. According to President Xi Jinping, both leaders agreed to work towards establishing a constructive strategic stability bilateral relationship between their nations.
Xi's Vision for Relations
Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that a transformation unseen in a century is accelerating globally, contributing to an unstable and turbulent international situation. M. Xi posed critical questions regarding the future of the bilateral relationship, including whether the two nations could overcome the "Thucydides trap" and create a new model for relations between major countries. "La Chine et les Etats-Unis peuvent-ils surmonter le piège de Thucydide et créer un nouveau modèle de relations entre grands pays? Pouvons-nous relever ensemble les défis mondiaux et apporter davantage de stabilité au monde? Pouvons-nous bâtir ensemble un avenir radieux pour nos relations bilatérales, dans l’intérêt du bien-être de nos deux peuples et de l’avenir de l’humanité? Ce sont là des questions cruciales pour l’histoire, pour le monde et pour les peuples," M. Xi said. He characterized these as questions of the era that leaders of major countries must answer together.
M. Xi emphasized that China and the United States could jointly address global challenges, bringing more stability to the world and building a bright future for their bilateral relations. He expressed his eagerness to work with Mr. Trump to chart the course for their relationship, aiming to make 2026 a historic and emblematic year. "Je me réjouis de travailler avec vous pour tracer la route et diriger le grand navire des relations sino-américaines, afin de faire de 2026 une année historique et emblématique qui ouvre un nouveau chapitre dans les relations sino-américaines," M. Xi stated. He further clarified that "la « stabilité stratégique constructive » doit être une stabilité positive fondée principalement sur la coopération, une stabilité saine caractérisée par une concurrence modérée, une stabilité constante où les divergences restent maîtrisables, et une stabilité durable porteuse de promesses de paix." M. Xi concluded that building a constructive strategic stability relationship should involve concrete actions, not just slogans.
Defining Constructive Stability
Chinese President Xi Jinping offered a definition of "constructive strategic stability," stating it must be a positive stability based mainly on cooperation. He elaborated that it should also be a healthy stability characterized by moderate competition, a constant stability where differences remain manageable, and a lasting stability promising peace. Mr. Xi stressed that building such a relationship "ne doit pas se limiter à un simple slogan, mais doit se traduire par des actions concrètes menées par les deux parties en vue d’un objectif commun." This new definition will serve as a strategic guideline for bilateral relations between China and the United States for the next three years and beyond.
Action Over Slogans
Chinese President Xi Jinping showed the necessity of concrete actions over mere rhetoric in establishing a constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States. "L’édification d’une relation constructive de stabilité stratégique entre la Chine et les Etats-Unis ne doit pas se limiter à un simple slogan, mais doit se traduire par des actions concrètes menées par les deux parties en vue d’un objectif commun," M. Xi stated. He emphasized that this approach would be key for navigating global challenges and fostering a more stable international environment. M. Xi reiterated his commitment to working with US President Donald Trump to guide the trajectory of Sino-American relations, aiming to make 2026 a landmark year. He previously posed critical questions regarding the future, including whether the nations could overcome the "Thucydides trap" and build a new model for relations, addressing global challenges for the benefit of both peoples and humanity's future. He characterized these as "les questions de notre époque auxquelles les dirigeants des grands pays doivent répondre ensemble."