Trump Leaves China Claiming Deals as Beijing’s Account Differs

President Trump left Beijing on Friday after a two-day summit with Xi Jinping, touting what he called “fantastic trade deals” while Chinese statements described the talks in far more general terms. The two governments’ accounts overlapped on Iran and on the aim of steadier ties, but diverged on trade, Taiwan and tariffs, according to Al Jazeera and CBS News.

Trump said China agreed to buy 200 Boeing jets, which Al Jazeera described as fewer than half the 500 markets had predicted and which would be China’s first U.S. jet purchase in almost a decade if confirmed. Boeing has not confirmed an order, and Boeing shares fell more than 4 percent on Friday, Al Jazeera reported. The White House also cited expanded market access, more Chinese investment and higher Chinese farm purchases and said China may soon buy more U.S. oil, but released no figures. China’s official summary mentioned no new agreements, according to Al Jazeera, though a Foreign Ministry spokesperson identified as Wang said the two sides agreed to set up one body for trade and another for investment. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described a “Board of Trade” and a “Board of Investment,” CBS reported.

Trump said he and Xi “did not discuss tariffs,” and gave no update on whether last October’s trade truce had been extended. CBS reported that Capital Economics concluded little concrete had been announced and that the reported deals were modest in scale. The U.S. also wants to preserve access to Chinese rare earth minerals.

On Taiwan, Xi called the island “the most important issue in China-US relations” and warned of possible conflict if it is mishandled. Trump said Xi opposes Taiwanese independence but that he “made no commitment either way” on the question of arms sales. Al Jazeera reported that U.S. lawmakers have approved a large new arms sale to Taiwan that still needs the president’s sign-off, and he said, “I will make a determination,” Al Jazeera reported. The White House statements did not mention Taiwan. Taiwan’s foreign ministry said Friday that U.S. arms sales are a security commitment under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

On Iran, the White House said both countries agreed Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and that the Strait of Hormuz must stay open. China’s statement did not explicitly say Iran should never have nuclear weapons, instead saying the conflict “should never have happened” and calling for a political settlement, according to Al Jazeera. Trump said the two leaders “feel very similar on Iran” and that Xi told him China would not give military equipment to Tehran; it is unclear whether Xi will follow through, CBS noted. China is Iran’s largest oil customer.

Chinese state media said Xi called the meetings “historic” and a “landmark,” and the Chinese side said the leaders agreed on a constructive, strategically stable relationship guiding ties “over the next three years and beyond,” a phrase absent from the White House account. On Friday the leaders met at the Zhongnanhai compound, had tea, walked the gardens and had lunch before Trump flew home, CBS reported. Xi is expected to visit the United States in September.