Chinese President Xi Jinping is wrapping up his visit to Washington Friday after a day of high-stakes talks with President Donald Trump.
Trump rolled out the red carpet for Xi again Thursday night, hosting a state dinner to mark the Chinese leader’s first visit to Washington in more than a decade.
Despite deep differences between the U.S. and China, Xi spent much of the visit talking about where the two countries can work together.
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Xi pushes cooperation
Xi said China’s push for what he calls the “great rejuvenation” and Trump’s promise to “Make America Great Again” can go hand in hand.
But Xi also warned against what’s known as the “Thucydides trap,” the idea that a rising power challenging an established one can ultimately lead to war.
Xi argued that conflict between the U.S. and China is not inevitable.
He made a similar argument when the two leaders met in Beijing in May.
Trump also emphasized cooperation between the two countries.
“President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure,” Trump said, adding that the two countries can continue building a relationship that “promotes prosperity and security for future generations.”
Major differences remain
The meetings did not erase major differences between Washington and Beijing.
The two leaders talked trade, artificial intelligence and Taiwan, all areas where the U.S. and China remain deeply at odds.
Xi nonetheless said the two sides reached a “common understanding on many issues.”
Xi and his wife are scheduled to join Trump and first lady Melania Trump for a private tea Friday, then tour the National Archives before heading home to China.
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