On Sept. 25, the final day of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States, President Donald Trump drank tea with Xi at the White House before the two leaders visited the National Archives. The three-day visit featured lavish ceremonies and diplomatic pageantry, including military flyovers and a state dinner. In a rare gesture, Trump also greeted Xi at Joint Base Andrews when he arrived from China.

During the state visit, Trump emphasized his strong relationship with Xi and repeatedly told the media that Xi shared many of his thoughts. Xi also responded favorably to Trump’s remarks, saying that achieving the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” and “making America great again” could go hand in hand.

The two powers remain engaged in intense competition over trade, military power, and artificial intelligence, but both leaders emphasized cooperation. Xi mentioned the “Thucydides Trap,” a theory stating that war is imminent when a rising power begins to challenge a ruling one, but argued that such a confrontation could be avoided. Trump did not directly address this conflict but highlighted efforts to ease tensions on both sides, such as by pursuing more balanced trade and greater access for U.S. farmers to Chinese markets.

Despite the warm rhetoric, experts have pointed out that the summit produced no real breakthroughs. On one hand, the two countries agreed to extend their existing trade truce by two months, giving negotiators more time to address tariffs, agricultural purchases, rare-earth supplies, and technology restrictions. On the other hand, the agreement only lasts for two more months, showing limited progress in resolving the broader economic disputes.

AI also remained a major issue. The two countries only agreed to continue dialogue on AI rather than establish concrete international standards. However, they did agree to create a communication channel for AI-related incidents. According to the BBC, President Trump remains steadfast against closer cooperation on AI development, fearing that U.S. technology could fall into Chinese hands.

Taiwan was another sensitive issue. Xi urged the United States to handle the Taiwan question with prudence and reiterated China’s opposition to Taiwanese independence. Trump largely avoided addressing the issue publicly and offered no substantive change in U.S. policy.

Overall, the state visit produced warm rhetoric and opportunities for continued dialogue but few concrete decisions that could be considered breakthroughs. The two leaders demonstrated a willingness to manage tensions, but major disagreements over trade, technology, and Taiwan remain unresolved.