Trump Says China Agreed to Buy 200 Boeing Jets at Beijing Summit

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a day of formal diplomacy with mutual toasts at a state banquet in Beijing on Thursday, emphasizing historical parallels and shared economic interests between the two nations. The event capped Trump’s first full day in China, which featured an elaborate welcome ceremony and an extended bilateral meeting that stretched more than two hours.

In his remarks, Trump pointed to longstanding cultural exchanges as a foundation for current relations. He noted Benjamin Franklin’s publication of Confucian sayings in colonial America and a stone tablet honoring George Washington that Chinese officials once gifted to the Washington Monument. Trump described these gestures as evidence of reciprocal respect and argued that the two countries’ common values—hard work, family, and national pride—could support expanded cooperation. He closed by inviting Xi to visit the United States on September 24.

Xi, for his part, called the visit historic and urged both sides to treat each other as partners rather than rivals. He stressed the need to make the relationship work, a formulation that appeared aimed at managing expectations amid longstanding disputes. A Chinese military band provided the evening’s soundtrack, performing “Y.M.C.A.,” “We Are the World,” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” selections that lent the proceedings a deliberately familiar tone.

Trade formed a concrete focus of the day’s discussions. Trump told Fox News that China had agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, a claim that aligns with analysts’ expectations of a major order though falls short of some earlier projections of up to 500 planes. Boeing has not secured a large Chinese commitment in nearly a decade, during which Airbus captured significant market share. Company executives accompanied Trump on the trip, underscoring the commercial stakes attached to the summit. Shares of Boeing nevertheless declined in after-hours trading, reflecting investor caution about the timing and scale of any final contract.

The leaders also addressed security issues, including the war in Iran and tensions over Taiwan. Xi reportedly warned that developments around Taiwan could produce an “extremely dangerous situation,” language that restated Beijing’s longstanding position without introducing new demands. On Iran, Trump indicated that China had offered to play a helpful role, though details remained sparse. Such exchanges illustrate how personal meetings can surface overlapping interests even when core differences persist.

Trump mixed policy points with lighter cultural observations during the dinner, noting the popularity of basketball and blue jeans in China and the proliferation of Chinese restaurants across the United States. These comments echoed earlier efforts by both governments to portray the relationship as rooted in everyday exchanges rather than solely in strategic competition. Xi’s own past speeches, including a 2015 address in Seattle that referenced American literature, resurfaced on social media during the visit, reinforcing the theme of mutual familiarity.

The Boeing announcement and the diplomatic language used by both leaders suggest an attempt to stabilize economic ties at a moment when supply chains and technology controls remain points of friction. Whether the aircraft order materializes in full and whether follow-up talks on Iran produce tangible steps will determine how much substance lies beneath the ceremonial toasts. For now, the Beijing summit has provided both sides a platform to signal continuity in a relationship that continues to shape global trade and security outcomes.