25 September 2026 (Navroze Bureau) Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged US President Donald Trump to oppose “Taiwan independence” and handle the Taiwan issue with caution, while calling for greater China-US cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI).
The remarks came during Xi and Trump’s White House talks on September 24, where the two leaders discussed Taiwan, AI, trade and several international issues.
Xi Presses Washington on Taiwan
Xi said China’s position on safeguarding national reunification and territorial integrity was clear.
According to China’s Foreign Ministry readout, he called on Washington to maintain its position opposing “Taiwan independence” and handle the Taiwan question with prudence. Beijing said this would help create a foundation for broader strategic cooperation between China and the US.
Taiwan is one of the most sensitive issues in US-China relations. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of China, while Taiwan has its own democratically elected government and maintains its separate political system.
Call for AI Cooperation
Xi also called for cooperation between China and the United States on artificial intelligence.
He said the two countries have strong AI capabilities and can compete while also cooperating. Xi proposed continued dialogue on AI risks and benefits and joint efforts to prevent misuse and abuse of the technology.
Xi specifically said AI should remain under human control and be developed in ways that serve people.
Trump Also Backs AI Dialogue
Trump said AI concerns the future of humanity and that the United States and China should maintain dialogue and strengthen cooperation in the field.
The comments come despite broader disagreements between Washington and Beijing over technology restrictions, advanced semiconductors and AI competition.
AI Competition Remains a Major Issue
The US and China are competing for leadership in advanced AI, while both governments have expressed concerns about potential risks from the technology.
Discussions around AI safety include issues such as cyberattacks, misuse of powerful models and risks to critical infrastructure. At the same time, US restrictions on advanced technology exports remain a source of tension between the two countries.
Trade Also Dominates Summit
Trade was another major issue during the Trump-Xi meeting.
Xi said the economic and trade teams of both countries had completed a new round of consultations and reached a new joint arrangement, describing it as positive for businesses and the wider global economy.
The detailed terms of the arrangement were not immediately disclosed in the Chinese readout.
Broader Global Issues Discussed
The two presidents also exchanged views on major international and regional issues, including the Middle East, the Ukraine conflict and the Korean Peninsula.
The discussions came as Washington and Beijing seek to manage competition while preventing disagreements from disrupting broader bilateral relations.
Trump Highlights Relationship With Xi
Trump described Xi as a friend and said the United States and China should continue working toward better relations.
Reuters reported that the summit featured significant symbolism but that major disagreements over Taiwan, AI and other issues remained unresolved.
A Delicate US-China Relationship
The meeting reflects the complexity of the current China-US relationship, combining economic cooperation with strategic competition.
While both leaders spoke about dialogue and cooperation, Taiwan remains a major point of disagreement, particularly because of US security ties with Taipei and Beijing’s opposition to what it describes as Taiwanese independence.