Trump Hails China Trade Wins After Xi Talks, But Beijing Plays the Long Game

Fresh from a closed-door meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, U.S. President Donald J. Trump declared a raft of wins for American agriculture and energy in a late-night post that read more like a campaign rally than a diplomatic communique. 

“Farmers should immediately go out and buy more land and larger tractors,” Trump urged, crediting Xi for greenlighting “massive amounts” of soybean and sorghum purchases, and praising China’s vow to help curb fentanyl trafficking.

Image Source: MFA China

But across the table, Beijing was reading from a different script emphasizing long-term engagement, economic stability, and strategic restraint. According to a statement by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Xi told Trump the U.S. and China should be “partners and friends,” and cautioned against “falling into a vicious cycle of mutual retaliation.” 

He framed China’s economic trajectory as “a vast ocean, big, resilient and promising,” pointing to 5.2 percent GDP growth in the first three quarters of 2025 and a 4 percent rise in global trade.

While Trump announced an impending “very large scale” Chinese deal to purchase U.S. oil and gas from Alaska -- naming Chris Wright and Governor Doug Burgum as part of the negotiating team -- Xi focused on a broader vision. China, he said, will “expand opening up,” “deepen reform,” and “promote higher-quality economic growth” as part of its next five-year plan. 

The underlying message: Beijing plays for the long term, and won’t be boxed into tactical agreements on Washington’s timeline.

Notably, both sides agreed to expand cooperation on energy, rare earths, and critical minerals, but Beijing was careful to frame trade as a stabilising anchor -- not a transactional scoreboard. Xi called for “solid deliverables” from both governments and cautioned that economic ties should serve as ballast, not bait.

On the fentanyl crisis, a key talking point for Trump, China pledged to work “diligently” to halt exports. Xi, however, also emphasized joint responsibilities on broader challenges -- from AI to public health -- and warned that “dialogue is better than confrontation.”

The two leaders, once again referring to each other as “good friends,” agreed to maintain regular contact and encourage more people-to-people exchanges. 

Trump, buoyant as ever, promised “many great things” to come and said he looks forward to visiting China in early 2026. Xi was invited to Washington in return.

But while Trump declared that “The BEST IS YET TO COME,” Beijing’s tone was less exuberant -- more measured, strategic, and unmistakably playing the long game.