US President Donald Trump (L) and China's President Xi Jinping stand for their counties' national anthems during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026.

Brendan Smialowski | Afp | Getty Images

BEIJING — U.S. President Donald Trump met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday morning for a high-stakes summit that runs through Friday.

The relationship between the two countries is going to be "better than ever before," Trump told Xi in his opening remarks, according to official broadcast footage. Trump said the two leaders have known each other personally for longer than any other U.S.…