The second day of President Donald Trump's summit in Beijing concluded with some progress but also tensions between the United States and China.
On Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the Temple of Heaven, both leaders strolled through gardens while Trump declared, "These are truly the most beautiful roses anyone has ever seen." Xi Jinping reciprocated by promising to send seeds from his garden.
During Friday's working lunch at Zhongnanhai, China’s leadership compound, President Trump thanked Chinese leader Xi for resolving several issues during their talks. He emphasized that both leaders share a desire to end the war with Iran.
However, behind this warm public choreography lies a harsh reality: forces are pulling U.S.-China relations apart. According to Axios, hawks in Trump's administration worked hard leading up to the summit to undercut any rapprochement efforts.
Trade was one of the main focuses during the talks. The United States expects China to commit to purchasing at least $10 billion worth of annual agricultural products over three years beyond existing soybean commitments. Additionally, both sides are negotiating a joint "Board of Trade" for about $30 billion in non-sensitive goods.
On Iran, Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity that Xi Jinping pledged not to supply military equipment to the country but noted China’s continued oil imports from Iran. At Zhongnanhai, President Trump stated, “We don’t want them [Iran] to have a nuclear weapon,” and expressed hope for open straits.
While these developments represent some progress in U.S.-China relations after years of decoupling under former administrations, significant challenges remain as both nations continue to compete globally.
This article was produced by AVALW News on Friday, May 15, 2026 based on reporting from 12 verified news sources across 2 countries. Our editorial process cross-references facts from multiple independent outlets to deliver accurate, comprehensive coverage. All original sources are linked below.