TODAY’S PAPER | May 17, 2026 | EPAPER

Xi-Trump summit marks 'new era' in ties, says Wang

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News Desk May 17, 2026 1 min read

China has described the recent summit between President Xi Jinping and United States President Donald Trump as a "historic turning point" in bilateral relations, saying both sides have agreed on a broad framework to stabilise ties, expand cooperation, and manage differences amid global uncertainty.

In a media briefing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Beijing summit marked a "new starting point" in China-US relations, with both leaders engaging in "open, thorough, constructive and strategic" discussions on issues ranging from bilateral cooperation to major international conflicts.

He said the two leaders reached "a number of important common understandings" and agreed to pursue a "constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability", a concept intended to guide relations over the coming years.

Wang said the summit took place at a critical moment when both countries are undergoing significant internal development and the international system is facing rapid transformation.

He added that China has entered a new phase of development under its 15th Five-Year Plan, focused on high-quality growth and modernisation, while the United States is marking the 250th anniversary of its independence. In this context, he said, the meeting between the two presidents carried "special historical significance".

According to Wang, President Xi and President Trump held extensive discussions on governance, bilateral ties, and global and regional hotspots, sending what he described as a strong signal to the world that cooperation between the two major powers is both necessary and possible.

He said both leaders recognised that despite differences, China and the United States "can help each other succeed" and contribute jointly to global peace and development.

A key outcome of the summit, Wang said, was the agreement to promote a "constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability", which he described as a guiding vision for the next phase of relations.

Explaining the concept in detail, Wang said the framework is built on four pillars: positive stability, healthy stability, constant stability, and lasting stability.

He said positive stability means cooperation should remain the dominant feature of the relationship, with both sides recognising deep economic interdependence.

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