‘US and China should coexist in peace’: Xi meets Trump at White House on second state visit

US President Donald Trump on Thursday welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House, formally beginning Xi’s second state visit to the United States.Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, as a military band played. Xi arrived in a black Hongqi N701 SUV, the Chinese equivalent of the US presidential “Beast.”The two leaders spoke about their “friendship” and ties.“Just as our people worked together to win that war, President Xi and I will continue working together to forge a better future for both of our nations,” Trump said, recalling US-China cooperation during World War II.He also described his relationship with the Chinese leader as a “truly great friendship” built on “mutual respect and the interests of our peoples.”Xi, visiting the US at Trump’s invitation, expressed his desire to “carry on our friendship, expand cooperation, and promote the well-being of both our peoples.”“We should coexist in peace. As I have said many times, China and the United States as two major countries stand to gain from cooperation and will both lose in confrontation,” he stated.He also urged the two countries to avoid the “Thucydides Trap,” a theory that a rising power and an established power are likely to go to war.“We do not need to avoid mentioning competition, but our competition should be a healthy one, and should be kept within bounds. It should be a race of catching up with one another, not a wrestle in which either wins or loses.”“China and the US must hold the line of no conflict and no confrontation between us. We can certainly find the right path for our two great countries to get along on this planet. Our two militaries should maintain regular dialogue and improve mechanisms for crisis communication and prevention. The Thucydides Trap can be overcome,” he added.Xi also addressed artificial intelligence, stressing that both countries had a responsibility to ensure AI remains under human control and serves public welfare.“We have both the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good and ensure that the development of AI is always under human control and serves the well-being of the people.”US tariffs on Chinese goods peaked at 145% during last year’s trade war, while China imposed reciprocal tariffs of 125%.After Trump and Xi met in South Korea last year, the average US tariff rate fell to about 47%, while China’s average rate was in the mid-30% range. In February, however, the US Supreme Court overturned many of Trump’s tariffs, leading to greater variation in duties on Chinese goods.(With PTI inputs)