Trump-Xi talks: AI and trade lead, Taiwan and conflicts take back seat

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump met at the White House on Thursday, agreeing to expand cooperation on artificial intelligence and extend a tariff truce until January 10, while managing their broader strategic rivalry. The talks, Xi's second with Trump in under six months, produced a framework for managing competition rather than resolving it. China urged the US to oppose "Taiwan independence," while both sides stressed shared responsibility on AI safety and agreed to support each other's 2026 APEC and G20 hosting. Trade yielded the clearest result, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirming the tariff truce extension. Xi invited 100,000 young Americans to China and called for regular military communication, though no binding AI agreement or progress on detained Americans was announced.