Trump–Xi White House State Dinner Remarks — U.S.–China Relations
Source-backed editorial guide to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a White House state dinner, covering the history of U.S.–China relations, trade and people-to-people ties, recent presidential exchanges, strategic stability and each leader's account of the bilateral relationship.
Featured speakers
- Donald Trump
- Xi Jinping
Transcribed and published by Longscribe. Editorial policy.
The state-dinner remarks are a ceremonial diplomatic record, not a joint policy document. Trump and Xi each use history and recent presidential exchanges to argue for continued engagement, while speaking from their own governments' perspectives. Source · 02:05
The page paraphrases Xi's remarks and treats both leaders' claims about the state of the relationship as attributed diplomatic messaging. The official White House captions provide the source timeline, and the named handoff makes the Trump-to-Xi speaker boundary explicit. Source · 11:06
Key facts
- Event span
- About 26 minutes of official White House video. Source · 00:10
- Principal speakers
- President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping. Source · 00:19
- Event format
- Ceremonial state-dinner remarks followed by toasts; there is no press Q&A in the source. Source · 00:10
- Shared framing
- Both leaders emphasize historical continuity and future engagement, while offering their own government's interpretation of the relationship. Source · 06:12
Arrival and ceremonial welcome
The video opens with the formal entrance of President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, followed by Trump's welcome to the Chinese delegation. Trump uses the dinner setting to frame the relationship in historical and personal terms, referring to the two presidents' recent contacts and the significance he assigns to the visit.
Trump's historical framing of U.S.-China ties
Trump surveys early commercial and diplomatic contact between the two countries and argues that long-running people-to-people and business connections have endured despite major political differences. He presents recent leader-level engagement as a continuation of that history and describes the relationship in optimistic terms. Those judgments are Trump's characterization of the bilateral relationship.
Trump on trade, exchanges and strategic stability
Trump turns from history to current diplomacy, speaking about trade, reciprocal visits and what he calls strategic stability. He portrays the recent exchanges as productive and emphasizes the possibility of cooperation without denying that the two governments have different systems and interests. The section closes with ceremonial remarks and a toast.
Handoff from Trump to Xi
After Trump's toast and closing ceremonial remarks, the event hands the floor to Xi. The transition is explicit in the official captions and provides a reliable speaker boundary independent of diarization. Xi thanks Trump and the first lady for the reception and begins by reviewing recent leader-level exchanges.
Xi's account of recent diplomacy and strategic stability
Xi describes reciprocal presidential visits and says the two leaders reached common understandings on multiple issues. He presents those exchanges as giving direction to the relationship and uses the phrase strategic stability to describe the desired bilateral posture. These are Xi's diplomatic claims and are paraphrased rather than reproduced verbatim.
Xi's historical and people-to-people examples
Xi draws on episodes from the history of U.S.-China contact, including wartime cooperation, Ping-Pong Diplomacy and the Nixon-era opening, to argue that interaction between citizens and institutions can sustain the relationship during periods of political difference. He also refers to cultural and local exchanges as part of that continuity.
Xi's closing message and toast
Xi closes by calling for continued exchange and cooperation and proposes a toast to the two countries and their people. The final minutes are ceremonial, followed by applause and music. The event therefore ends on diplomatic messaging rather than a press Q&A or negotiated policy announcement.
Key timestamped claims
Each claim is an original Longscribe summary anchored to the moment(s) in the recording where it is supported; follow a timestamp to verify it in the source video.
00:10The video opens with the formal entrance of President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, followed by Trump's welcome to the Chinese delegation. Trump uses the dinner setting to frame the relationship in historical and personal terms, referring to the two presidents' recent contacts and the significance he assigns to the visit.
04:09Trump surveys early commercial and diplomatic contact between the two countries and argues that long-running people-to-people and business connections have endured despite major political differences. He presents recent leader-level engagement as a continuation of that history and describes the relationship in optimistic terms. Those judgments are Trump's characterization of the bilateral relationship.
07:41Trump turns from history to current diplomacy, speaking about trade, reciprocal visits and what he calls strategic stability. He portrays the recent exchanges as productive and emphasizes the possibility of cooperation without denying that the two governments have different systems and interests. The section closes with ceremonial remarks and a toast.
11:09After Trump's toast and closing ceremonial remarks, the event hands the floor to Xi. The transition is explicit in the official captions and provides a reliable speaker boundary independent of diarization. Xi thanks Trump and the first lady for the reception and begins by reviewing recent leader-level exchanges.
16:00Xi describes reciprocal presidential visits and says the two leaders reached common understandings on multiple issues. He presents those exchanges as giving direction to the relationship and uses the phrase strategic stability to describe the desired bilateral posture. These are Xi's diplomatic claims and are paraphrased rather than reproduced verbatim.
19:16Xi draws on episodes from the history of U.S.-China contact, including wartime cooperation, Ping-Pong Diplomacy and the Nixon-era opening, to argue that interaction between citizens and institutions can sustain the relationship during periods of political difference. He also refers to cultural and local exchanges as part of that continuity.
23:21Xi closes by calling for continued exchange and cooperation and proposes a toast to the two countries and their people. The final minutes are ceremonial, followed by applause and music. The event therefore ends on diplomatic messaging rather than a press Q&A or negotiated policy announcement.
Timeline
- Opening — The presidents enter and Trump welcomes Xi and the Chinese delegation. Source · 00:10
- Trump remarks — Trump covers historical ties, trade and recent diplomacy, then gives a toast. Source · 04:09
- Xi remarks — Xi reviews recent visits and strategic stability, then turns to historical and people-to-people examples. Source · 13:59
- Close — Xi calls for continued cooperation and offers a toast; applause and music follow. Source · 22:22
Source & methodology
Built from the official White House YouTube caption track with the complete chronological source segments retained for evidence. Public prose is original editorial paraphrase. President Xi's remarks are paraphrased rather than reproduced verbatim. Router-v2 diarization is retained as a boundary audit, but names come from explicit introductions, caption text and named handoffs rather than voice inference.
Full transcript
Speaker names are editorially verified. Mixed-speaker ASR handoffs were split at reviewed turn boundaries.
00:10Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, and First Lady Melania Trump,
00:17accompanied by the President
00:19of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jingping,
Donald Trump, President of the United States00:22and Madam Peng Liyuan. ♪ (Hail to the Chief) ♪ The President: Thank you very much. Please sit. It is a great honor, President Xi, Madam Liyuan, and members of the Chinese delegation. Melania and I are delighted to welcome you once again to the White House.
Donald Trump, President of the United States01:58You are truly outstanding, amazing people. The hospitality of the Chinese people was on full display during my visit to Beijing earlier this year. And tonight, we hope to show you the same honor as you returned to Washington for the first time in over a decade.
02:21(speaking Mandarin)
Donald Trump, President of the United States02:56Long ago, European explorers first discovered the American continent as they searched for a new way to reach China in the East. That quest produced the modern world, this beautiful country, and ultimately the long relationship between the Chinese and the American people that we are celebrating very happily tonight.
03:20(speaking Mandarin)
Donald Trump, President of the United States03:44East and West eventually did meet here in America when the first formal delegation of Chinese diplomats came to the United States 158 years ago. In Boston, they met American thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.
Donald Trump, President of the United States04:03In New York, they dined with the governor, the mayor, and titans of Wall Street. And in Washington, they came to the White House for the first ever state dinner between China and the United States.
04:18(speaking Mandarin)
Donald Trump, President of the United States04:47Tonight, we revive the spirit of that first encounter here on American soil as we are joined by some of the top leaders in business, culture, and government from our own time. On one side, China draws on thousands of years of history and tradition from Sun Tzu to Sun Yat-sen.
Donald Trump, President of the United States05:09For Americans, we inherit a legacy of faith from Jerusalem to Rome, the democracy of ancient Athens, the triumphs of Sparta, and the freedom proclaimed in Philadelphia 250 years ago.
05:25(speaking Mandarin)
Donald Trump, President of the United States05:59As the leaders of our two nations, President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure and we've never gotten along better. Since the first trade ships from New York left the harbor to arrive on the banks of the Pearl River.
Donald Trump, President of the United States06:20Americans and Chinese have always exchanged goods, knowledge, customs, and ideas. This has been the foundation of commerce and mutual respect between our countries, and together we can continue to build a relationship that promotes prosperity and security for future generations.
06:39(speaking Mandarin)
Donald Trump, President of the United States07:17And if I could go off script just for a second I just want to say I had to do it. I had to do it.
07:24(speaking Mandarin)
Donald Trump, President of the United States07:29But as a special treat in honor of President Xi and Madam Peng, I'd like to invite everyone in the room to visit through that beautiful curtain in the back, the door, it's all lit up and looks beautiful.
Donald Trump, President of the United States07:45It's one year away from completion, the new ballroom that you've heard about, and you will see something that I think you will really love. Presidents have been trying to get this built for 150 years, and I can tell you that tonight, if we had it, we would've had way more than a thousand people with standing room only.
Donald Trump, President of the United States08:06And this room has about 145, that's about it. So they've been looking for this for over 150 years, all presidents, and they will shortly have it. So in honor of you, you'll be the first people to step foot on that, and we'll do that maybe after we're finished with the entertainment tonight.
Donald Trump, President of the United States08:24Anybody who wants to walk into a construction site that's nice and clean and sparkling, it's our honor to have you do so, but this is an honor of President Xi, Madam Peng.
08:35(applause) (speaking Mandarin)
Donald Trump, President of the United States09:35In that spirit of friendship, it's my honor to present President Xi with a gift made by an extraordinary American artist, one of the greatest in the world and designed in personal collaboration with Melania and myself.
Donald Trump, President of the United States09:51And the bald eagle is a national symbol of the United States and an embodiment of the free and soaring spirit of America. And we hope it'll find a nice place, a wonderful place in Beijing.
Donald Trump, President of the United States10:01It's in your honor.
10:06(speaking Mandarin) (applause) (speaking Mandarin)
Donald Trump, President of the United States10:53President Xi and Madam Peng, Melania and I want to thank you for making your journey, and it is a long journey to America during our 250th year. I'd like to raise a glass and propose a toast to President Xi, Madam Peng, and the long relationship between China and America that has bridged thousands of miles and spanned hundreds of years, and may all of our people know a future of harmony, peace, and success.
Donald Trump, President of the United States11:22And we're all here today and tonight to honor you both, and thank you very much for coming to America.
11:30(speaking Mandarin)
Donald Trump, President of the United States11:59Thank you. And now, I'd like to ask President Xi to come up and say a few words. Thank you all very much. Thank you.
12:07(applause)
12:49(speaking Mandarin)
13:55Xi Jinping: Honorable President Donald J. Trump and Mrs. Melania Trump, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, thank you Mr. President and Mrs. Trump for extending to my wife and me your gracious hospitality and thoughtful arrangements.
14:09You and Mrs. Trump have made many special arrangements for our visit, all prepared with meticulous care and consideration in every detail. You make us feel truly at home. I would also like to extend my sincere greetings to Americans from all sectors of society who care about China-US relations and support the further growth of our bilateral ties.
14:38As I speak, my compatriots in China are celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, a cherished occasion for family reunion in Chinese tradition. I wish you all a very happy Mid-Autumn Festival and my best wishes to you and your families.
14:57(speaking Mandarin)
15:54In May this year, President Trump paid a successful visit to China at my invitation. We agreed to build a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability. During the visit, President Trump warmly invited me to visit the United States, and I have come as promised.
16:15In less than half a year, the Chinese and American presidents have exchanged state visits, making history in our bilateral engagement. Today, President Trump and I had sincere and in-depth exchanges and reached common understanding on many issues.
16:32This has added new substance to the constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability and provided new strategic guidance for China-US relations.
16:49(speaking Mandarin)
17:10Not long ago, the United States celebrated the 250th anniversary of its independence. On that occasion, I sent my congratulations on behalf of the Chinese government and people. The past 200 plus years have also witnessed friendly exchanges between China and the United States.
17:33(speaking Mandarin)
17:57Over 200 years ago, soon after its independence, the United States turned its eyes to China. Our two countries started trading with each other, exchanging goods to meet each other's needs and draw on our complementary strengths.
18:15In fact, President George Washington had personally acquired a large collection of Chinese porcelain.
18:22(speaking Mandarin)
18:59Over 80 years ago, the Chinese and American people stood shoulder to shoulder in a fight against Japanese militarist aggressors. Together, we opened the famous Hump air route over the Himalayas. During the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, Chinese soldiers and civilians rescued hundreds of American pilots at the cost of hundreds of thousands of Chinese lives.
19:29Such a friendship forged in blood and fire will surely live on through the generations.
19:38(speaking Mandarin)
20:13Over 50 years ago, Ping-Pong Diplomacy between China and United States opened the long-closed door of bilateral exchanges. With the political wisdom embodied in a small ball moving the globe, the older generation of Chinese and American statesmen led by Chairman Mao Zedong and President Richard Nixon set in motion the historic process of normalizing relations between our two countries.
20:43The redwood trees that President Nixon had presented as a special state gift have taken root in Zhejiang Province where I worked for several years.
20:55(speaking Mandarin)
21:28Over 20 years ago, an American named Ronald Sakolsky gave financial support to Yin Yuzhen, a Chinese desert control worker, for her tree planting effort. Just recently, Ronald, now an elderly man, returned to China.
21:46He saw with his own eyes that the desert back then had turned into a lush forest. This story touches the hearts of many Chinese people and stands as a shining example of the friendly exchanges between our two peoples.
22:05(speaking Mandarin)
22:14Exchanges have helped promote heart-to-heart communication between our people and cemented public support for Sino-US friendship and cooperation.
22:26(speaking Mandarin)
23:18Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, reviewing the past gives us new perspectives. Today, we have come to another historic juncture for China-US relations. President Trump has pledged to make America great again and let the American people in making significant strides.
23:40China is committed to achieving great national rejuvenation, and Chinese modernization has kept breaking new ground. These two goals are both ambitious and can surely be mutually reinforcing. China and the United States must act as responsible major countries, meet the expectations of our peoples, keep pace with the trend of our times, and explore a new approach for major countries to get along with each other.
24:14(speaking Mandarin)
24:36Like a river that never stops flowing, history never stands still. The friendship between the two peoples is a worthy cause that holds great promise. Let us join hands and move forward side by side.
24:53Together, let us nurture the beautiful flowers of Sino-US friendship. Together, let us write a new chapter in our friendly relations.
25:04(speaking Mandarin)
25:20Now, I would like to propose a toast to the health of President and Mrs. Trump, to the prosperity and progress of China and United States, and to the friendship between our two peoples. Cheers.
25:31Cheers.
25:46(applause) ♪ (soft orchestral music) ♪
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