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

President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping raised glasses to warmer bilateral ties during a lavish state banquet in Beijing on Thursday evening, closing out a day of ceremonies and talks that produced a modest aircraft purchase pledge from China and pointed exchanges over Taiwan and Iran. The event unfolded with military bands playing American pop standards and both leaders emphasizing shared history, even as underlying frictions surfaced in private discussions.

Trump spoke first at the banquet, recounting centuries of cultural exchanges between the two nations and citing Benjamin Franklin’s publication of Confucian sayings alongside a stone tablet honoring George Washington that sits in the Washington Monument. He described the relationship as built on mutual respect and common values of hard work and family, then invited Xi to visit the United States in September. Xi, in turn, called the visit historic and urged the two powers to act as partners rather than rivals, insisting that both sides must make the relationship function.

The toasts came after a morning arrival ceremony heavy on pageantry and a bilateral meeting that stretched more than two hours. White House officials said the leaders discussed the ongoing conflict involving Iran and broader trade matters. Xi reportedly warned Trump that any escalation around Taiwan risked an extremely dangerous situation, a blunt reminder of Beijing’s red line delivered directly to the American president.

On the commercial front, Trump told Fox News that China had agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, a commitment analysts had anticipated but viewed as smaller than hoped. Some forecasts before the trip had projected orders closer to 500 planes, and Boeing shares slipped nearly 4 percent in trading even as the announcement emerged. Company executives traveling with Trump had described the summit as a potential opening after years of limited sales to China, yet the modest scale left investors unconvinced that a lasting breakthrough had occurred.

The evening’s musical selections struck an upbeat note, including “Y.M.C.A.,” “We Are the World,” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” selections verified by White House staff. Trump lightened his remarks with references to Chinese restaurants outnumbering major American fast-food chains and noted that many Chinese citizens now enjoy basketball and blue jeans. He referred to Xi as a good friend during the speech.

Behind the cordial surface, the day illustrated the limits of personal rapport in managing deep strategic competition. The Taiwan warning underscored Beijing’s unwillingness to soften its stance even during a carefully choreographed visit, while the aircraft order, though welcome for Boeing after a long drought, fell short of the volume needed to reverse years of lost market share to Airbus. Trade imbalances and technology controls remained unaddressed in public comments, leaving observers to question how far the renewed toasts would translate into concrete progress once the delegations returned home.