In a moment that caught many by surprise, Chinese President Xi Jinping publicly commended former U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in brokering peace on the world stage, as the two leaders met face-to-face for the first time in six years. The meeting took place on October 30, 2025, in Busan, South Korea, just ahead of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in the nearby city of Gyeongju. According to Anadolu and Sky News, the summit was marked by rare warmth and a spirit of pragmatic cooperation, with both leaders acknowledging the challenges that confront their nations—and the world at large.
Xi’s praise was direct and unequivocal. "You care a lot about world peace, and you're very enthusiastic about settling various regional hotspot issues. I appreciate your great contribution to the recent conclusion of the Gaza ceasefire agreement," Xi told Trump, as reported by Anadolu. This was not merely diplomatic flattery; Xi specifically referenced Trump’s involvement in the recent ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which had brought a measure of calm to a region long plagued by conflict.
But the accolades didn’t stop there. Xi also highlighted Trump’s instrumental role in facilitating a peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, signed on October 26, 2025, following deadly border clashes that erupted in July. It was a rare moment of international recognition for Trump, who has often been a polarizing figure on the global stage. As Xi put it, "Mr President, you care a lot about world peace – and you are very enthusiastic about settling various regional hotspot issues. I appreciate your great contribution to the recent conclusion of the Gaza ceasefire agreement."
The meeting in Busan was more than just a photo opportunity. It was the first in-person summit between Xi and Trump since June 2019, when they last met at the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. This gap of six years—spanning the tumultuous end of Trump’s first term, his return to the presidency, and a period of global upheaval—lent the encounter a sense of gravity and anticipation. The world, it seemed, was watching to see whether the leaders of the two largest economies could find common ground amid growing tensions.
According to Sky News, the agenda in Busan was ambitious. The two leaders discussed not only the recent peace agreements, but also the thorny issues of trade tensions and the ongoing war in Ukraine. While details of their private conversations remain closely held, sources indicated that both sides came prepared to make concessions. Trump, for his part, announced a possible 10% reduction in tariffs on Chinese goods and hinted at granting China access to advanced Nvidia chip technologies—a move that sent ripples through global markets. In response, Beijing signaled its willingness to lift certain export restrictions, suggesting a thaw in the long-frozen trade relationship between the two giants.
Xi’s remarks also acknowledged the complexity of the U.S.-China relationship. "Given our different national conditions, we do not always see eye to eye with each other, and it is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have frictions now and then," he observed. Yet, rather than dwell on past disputes, Xi struck a forward-looking tone. "The world today is confronted with many tough problems. China and the US can jointly shoulder our responsibility as major countries and work together to accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of our two countries and the whole world," he said, as quoted by both Tempo and Sky News.
Both leaders appeared keen to project an image of steady hands at the helm. Xi used a nautical metaphor to describe their shared responsibility: "In the face of winds, waves and challenges, you and I at the helm of China-US relations should stay the right course and ensure the steady sailing forward of the giant ship of China-US relations." It was a call for stability and cooperation—qualities that have often seemed elusive in recent years.
Trade, always a contentious issue, was also on the table. Xi acknowledged the efforts of the Chinese and U.S. trade teams, who had met several times in recent weeks, including in Malaysia just days before the Busan summit. According to Tempo, these discussions had yielded "encouraging progress toward building a strong foundation and positive atmosphere for bilateral talks." The hope, it seemed, was that the momentum from these lower-level meetings could carry over into the leaders’ dialogue, paving the way for broader agreements.
Yet, for all the optimism, the meeting was not without its moments of tension. Following Xi’s remarks, Trump declined to answer journalists’ questions about Washington’s recent decision to resume nuclear weapons testing—a move that has raised eyebrows among both allies and rivals. The silence was telling, hinting at unresolved issues that still lurk beneath the surface of the world’s most consequential bilateral relationship.
Meanwhile, Xi made it clear that Beijing remains committed to advancing peace talks in other conflict zones around the globe. His message was one of shared responsibility and partnership—not just between China and the United States, but for the benefit of all nations. "China and the US can jointly shoulder responsibility as major countries to accomplish significant things for their countries and the world," he said. The implication was unmistakable: in an era of mounting global challenges, cooperation between Beijing and Washington is not just desirable—it’s essential.
The timing of the summit was significant. Both leaders were in South Korea for the APEC meetings, but the bilateral encounter in Busan was widely seen as a critical step in resetting U.S.-China relations after years of acrimony. Trump had already held meetings with APEC business leaders the day before, underscoring the economic stakes of the moment. According to Tempo, the two sides had made "encouraging progress" in trade talks, raising hopes that a broader thaw might be at hand.
Observers noted that while both leaders struck conciliatory notes in public, the underlying competition between their countries remains fierce. The issues discussed—trade, technology, regional conflicts, and nuclear policy—are not easily resolved. Yet, the willingness to engage directly, to acknowledge differences while seeking common ground, marked a notable shift from the combative rhetoric that has characterized much of the past decade.
As the world watched the proceedings in Busan, the message from both sides was clear: dialogue is back on the table, and with it, the possibility of progress. Whether this spirit of cooperation will endure remains to be seen. But for a brief moment on a rainy October day in South Korea, the leaders of China and the United States offered the world a glimpse of what constructive diplomacy might look like—and perhaps, a reason for cautious hope.
