US, Iran should return to dialogue to end war, Xi tells Trump at White House

President Xi expresses China’s support for the US, Iran returning to the framework deal they agreed to in June

During a closed-door meeting at the White House on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the United States and Iran to return to dialogue to end their war.

US President Donald Trump and President Xi began closed-door bilateral talks at the White House, with security, trade and technology among the issues on the agenda.

China has “always believed that the sovereignty and security of all countries should be respected” and has played a constructive role in easing tensions, Xi told Trump, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

It had "encouraged relevant parties to stay committed to peaceful solutions and maintain the momentum of talks," he said.

He expressed China’s support for the US and Iran returning to the framework deal they agreed to in June and voiced hope that both sides ultimately reach a comprehensive agreement covering the nuclear issue and other matters and achieve peace as soon as possible.

🔴 Xi urges the US and Iran to return to the track of resolving issues through negotiations as soon as possible

🔴 China supports the US and Iran in returning to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, President Xi Jinping says pic.twitter.com/CfNwIuwmYb

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) September 24, 2026

After the US and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28, Pakistan helped secure a ceasefire on April 8 and later hosted more than 20 hours of talks between American and Iranian officials in Islamabad.

Following weeks of mediation, Pakistan and Qatar helped secure the June 18 deal, which provided the two sides with a framework and 60 days to negotiate a longer-term agreement aimed at ending the war.

However, the two sides soon resumed retaliatory strikes, with tensions continuing.

Xi also urged the US to “adhere to the correct position of opposing ‘Taiwan independence’” and handle the Taiwan question prudently to lay a solid foundation for bilateral strategic cooperation and relations.

Beijing’s position on safeguarding its national unity and territorial integrity was “crystal clear,” he said.

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province, while Taipei has maintained its self-rule since 1949.

Xi also said that building a constructive China-US relationship based on strategic stability was not an expedient measure nor something that could be achieved overnight, additionally calling for translating the new vision of a constructive bilateral relationship of strategic stability into action.

Trump hailed his closed-door bilateral talks with President Xi at the White House. “We had a great meeting,” Trump told reporters while giving an exclusive tour of his new helipad and Marine One.

Trump also said Xi “has great interest in granite. He likes granite.”

“He’s an expert on stone aside from many other things. And he loves good granite,” he added.

Trump on Xi:

Xi is an expert on stone, and he loves good granite. pic.twitter.com/embCuoDpOH

— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 24, 2026

The Chinese president left the White House after the bilateral talks but was expected to return later with his wife, Peng Liyuan, for a state dinner.

Trump welcomes Xi to White House

Earlier in the day, Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi to the White House for a lavish state summit expected to be heavy on symbolism but light on substance, with both leaders keen to showcase stable ties despite thorny issues such as AI, trade, Taiwan, and the war with Iran.

Highlights of the welcome ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday morning. pic.twitter.com/hgQoOrgBay

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) September 24, 2026

In remarks from the grand foyer of the White House, Trump touted his "truly ‌great friendship" with Xi and said the two powers had made strides on trade since his trip to China in May.

"During this visit, we will also discuss pressing issues concerning security, technology, and 'super intelligence,'" Trump said, using his alternative name for artificial intelligence. "The decisions we make in these areas today can promote peace and prosperity for decades and decades to come."

Speaking after Trump, Xi said the competition between the US and China should be a "healthy one." US companies were welcome in China, he said, adding that he hopes "Chinese companies are treated fairly here in the United States."

Xi ​also said both militaries should maintain regular dialogue to improve crisis prevention.

Read: Xi starts high-stakes US visit with call to be ‘partners, not rivals’

"The Thucydides trap can be overcome," he said, referring to the academic theory that sees a risk of rivalry between a rising and an established power ​spiralling into open conflict.

The summit, Xi's first visit to Washington in more than a decade, is the second meeting this year between the leaders of the world's two biggest economies.

"President Xi and I have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship actually, built on the mutual respect and the vital interests of our people."

President Trump welcomes President Xi Jinping, Madame Peng Liyuan, and the Chinese delegation to the White House to begin their… pic.twitter.com/48bcpMGRGC

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 24, 2026

Pomp and circumstance

For Trump, who relishes ceremony and prizes his ties with powerful leaders, the visit was as much a matter of national prestige as an opportunity for high-stakes diplomacy. The US president aimed to reciprocate the grand welcome he received in China in ​May.

But Trump and Xi's remarks were not carried live by any US television networks, which have collectively declined to provide footage in protest of the White House's ban of CNN, MS Now and Politico.

President Trump and the President of China Deliver Remarks https://t.co/9xOtSXOgNa

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 24, 2026

Trump greeted Xi on arrival on Wednesday evening with a red carpet ​on the tarmac, the first time a US president has welcomed a foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews since President Barack Obama met Pope Francis in 2015, according to C-SPAN, which tracks presidential events.

Following their remarks on Thursday, the two leaders observed a military ceremony including a flyover at the Rose Garden, with Chinese flags waving from the Oval Office roof alongside US flags, before a scheduled bilateral meeting.

Xi Jinping:

We should coexist in peace. As I have said many times, China and the United States, as two major countries, stand to gain from cooperation and will both lose in confrontation.

We do not need to avoid mentioning competition, but our competition should be a healthy… pic.twitter.com/oXxtu8z1GK

— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 24, 2026

Trump's embrace of Xi could complicate his campaign message at home ahead of November's midterm elections, when Republicans' narrow congressional majorities are at stake.

The president, for months, has labelled Democrats "communists" in an effort to paint them as too extreme, but he welcomed Xi, the head of the Chinese Communist Party, on Thursday as a dear personal friend.

.@POTUS and @FLOTUS join President Xi and Madame Peng for a Military Review in the Rose Garden pic.twitter.com/RwBkD116ph

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 24, 2026

Breakthroughs unlikely

Despite the fanfare, analysts say "major" breakthroughs are unlikely, with tangible outcomes ​potentially limited to an extension of a trade truce expiring in November and an agreement to examine threats posed by artificial intelligence.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Wednesday after talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng that they had agreed to extend until ‌January 10 an ⁠agreement that paused a trade war that saw mutual tariffs top 100%.

Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Thursday morning that the two leaders would discuss "super intelligence" but again indicated he has little interest in imposing new regulations, despite concerns from industry leaders that AI could eventually pose a threat to humans.

"Super Intelligence (SI) will be a big topic of discussion, but I want to leave it exactly where it is," Trump wrote. "That is China's position also."

During his comments on Thursday, Xi said both countries have "the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good, and ensure that the development of AI is always under human control."

Analysts say intense competition between the two powers in AI is likely to limit the scope for anything beyond symbolic agreements.

Keeping ​ties stable

People familiar with the plans say the talks could ​also yield deals to lower some tariffs, combat drug trafficking ⁠and expand military-to-military dialogue, while Trump is expected to seek the release of Americans and others detained in China.

Xi appears to be in a stronger position, having overseen a surge in China's trade and firmly in control of supplies of rare earth minerals that give him powerful leverage.

Both leaders see advantages in keeping relations stable, with Trump mired in the unpopular Iran war ​and Xi grappling with domestic economic challenges. But beneath the surface are challenges that could reignite tensions, including disputes over Taiwan, export controls and AI. Taiwan, a democratically governed island claimed by ​China, is the most contentious issue.

US ⁠allies in Asia are concerned Trump may be tempted to soften Washington's support for Taipei to lock in economic wins with China.

.@POTUS shows off Marine One and the new White House helipad to President Xi pic.twitter.com/mUTvisgqfg

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 24, 2026

Xi is expected to press Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales and could do this during a planned visit by the two to the US National Archives on Friday, sources who were briefed on the issue told Reuters. In return, China is offering help to put pressure on Iran, the sources added.

After the May summit, Trump said he was holding in abeyance an arms package to Taiwan worth some $14 billion ⁠and called it ​a "very good negotiating chip."

The leaders will likely discuss the Iran war, but there has been little sign Beijing is willing to exert pressure on its ​ally to yield to US demands.

The guest list for Thursday's state dinner includes CEOs like Apple's Tim Cook, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Tesla's Elon Musk and Nvidia's Jensen Huang, but despite such an array, people familiar with US plans say Trump is likely to maintain firm export ​controls on US tech Xi wants loosened.

A rare personal welcome

Earlier in the day, Trump gave President Xi a rare personal welcome at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where Xi kicked off a three-day state visit aimed at easing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, beside their aircraft after the Chinese president arrived at the US military base outside Washington.

American children presenting bouquets to Xi and his wife on arrival to the US. Photo: Xinhua

The welcome marked the first time in 11 years that a US president had greeted a foreign leader at the military facility. According to C-SPAN, the previous US president to welcome a foreign leader there was Barack Obama, who received Pope Francis at the base in 2015.

President Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi to US https://t.co/IcNv3G1IEa

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 23, 2026

Trump, wearing a long coat and gloves, and Xi stood side by side on the tarmac as a military band played national anthems. A noisy flyover by two B-1 bombers clearly jolted Trump, who grimaced at the roar of jets, while his Chinese guest stood by impassively, according to French newspaper Le Monde.

The ceremony included a red carpet measuring about 100 feet, while six F-22 fighter jets and six F-16s were lined up on the tarmac in a display of military hardware. The elaborate reception differed from the usual protocol for visiting foreign leaders.

Xi’s arrival launched a closely watched visit that is expected to feature extensive pageantry, including military ceremonies, an aircraft flyover and a state dinner at the White House on Thursday.

The Chinese president is due to hold talks with Trump at the White House, with trade, tariffs, artificial intelligence, drug trafficking and military-to-military communication expected to figure prominently on the agenda.

The airport welcome was particularly notable because Trump did not receive a similar personal greeting from Xi when the US president visited Beijing in May.

US President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan review an honour guard as they arrive ahead of a state visit at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, Sep 23, 2026. Photo: Reuters

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet President Xi Jinping of China and Madame Peng Liyuan upon their arrival in Washington, D.C., ahead of the state visit at the White House. pic.twitter.com/nm2vGonChM

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 24, 2026

Xi was accompanied by senior Chinese officials, including Cai Qi, a close aide to the president, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Chinese state media reported.

Later in the day, President Trump and the First Lady hosted President Xi and Madame Peng in the Rose Garden for a Military Review.

WATCH IN FULL: @POTUS and @FLOTUS host President Xi and Madame Peng in the Rose Garden for a Military Review 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/7kfXbnNEY6

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 24, 2026

The First Lady also hosted Madame Peng for a cultural visit at the Smithsonian Museum of Asian Art

.@FLOTUS hosts Madame Peng for a cultural visit at the Smithsonian Museum of Asian Art pic.twitter.com/anHkakwSIk

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 24, 2026

.@FLOTUS and Madame Peng listen to a children's choir during the cultural visit https://t.co/xZpS69faxu pic.twitter.com/XcIjCHDmfG

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 24, 2026

Two sources told AFP that no Chinese chief executives were part of Xi’s delegation, despite the planned attendance of senior US technology executives, including leaders of major artificial intelligence companies, at Thursday’s White House dinner.

The visit comes as Washington and Beijing seek to manage a range of thorny issues while exploring areas for cooperation. Possible tariff reductions in some sectors, efforts to combat drug trafficking, expanded military-to-military dialogue and cooperation or competition over artificial intelligence are expected to feature in the discussions.

Xi is also scheduled to visit the US National Archives during his stay.