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In China, the Xi-Trump Summit Is Seen as Projecting Image of the Country’s Rise
Chinese outlets highlighted rare White House honors and cooperation, while search interest and front-page coverage signaled a public boost in confidence.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, President Donald Trump hosted China's President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at a State Dinner in the White House East Room, marking a high-profile bilateral engagement.
Chinese state media closely covered the summit, with the People's Daily dedicating its front page to the visit featuring six photos. On Friday, Baidu search trends ranked the talks, State Dinner, and Mid-Autumn Festival greetings as the three most popular topics.
Beijing postgraduate student Xiang Ziyu told The Associated Press the high-level reception impressed citizens, suggesting China has become "really powerful." Resident Shen Zuohang felt reassured by the leaders' apparent agreement on trade and security.
According to China's Foreign Ministry, Xi called on Trump to oppose Taiwan's independence and handle the issue with caution. Trump did not immediately comment on the island, though he previously described arms sales as open to negotiation.
The summit sent a positive signal likely to improve Chinese public opinion on bilateral relations, according to Xiang. Observers noted the interaction was preferable to a lack of communication, with both sides handling sensitive issues in an acquiescent way.
(Beijing=Yonhap News) Correspondent Han Jong-gu = Through Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day state visit to the United States, China... [is...] the image of a powerful nation standing shoulder to shoulder with the U.S.
Both Trump's unusual welcome to Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the airport, and the bilateral and cultural events attended by the two leaders, were closely followed – and praised – by the Chinese state press