'Farmers will be happy': Trump says Xi meeting was 'very productive'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump predicted American farmers would be happy with the outcome of his three-day Washington meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, praising the visit as productive without detailing specific benefits.

Trade has been a major point of tension between the United States and China, alongside artificial intelligence, security and the war in Iran.

Trump made the remarks on Friday, September 25, during tea with Xi and his wife, along with First Lady Melania Trump, at the White House, as the Chinese leader wrapped up his three-day summit in Washington.

Trump offers upbeat assessment of China meeting

“We will, and we'll be speaking a lot. I think our farmers are going to be very happy,” Trump said, responding to Xi's invitation for him and Melania to visit China.

Trump described the visit as “very, very productive” and said both countries had made “great strides” and achieved positive results. 

However, he did not specify what agreements or commitments would benefit American farmers.

“We've had a tremendous visit from two spectacular people, and we've really enjoyed it, and I think we've made tremendous strides,” Trump said.

The president also thanked the press for what he described as “very fair” coverage of the visit, adding that America was happy with the meeting and that he believed China was, too.

Trump and Xi met at the White House on Thursday for a high-stakes summit, followed by a state dinner attended by technology and industry leaders. 

Xi Jinping says leaders agreed on strategic stability

Xi offered his own positive assessment of the discussions, describing the two presidents as leaders charting the course for China-US relations.

“The president and I are like two people that's charting the course for the great ship of China-US relations,” Xi said during Friday's tea meeting.

He said the leaders had agreed to build a constructive relationship based on “respect, fairness, and reciprocity,” adding that they had given their existing vision of strategic stability new substance.

Xi also identified two further opportunities for the leaders to meet before the end of the year: the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in China and the Group of 20 summit in the United States.

He welcomed Trump and Melania to visit China, with Trump responding that they would make the trip and that the two leaders would continue speaking.

The Chinese president also said the relationship's prospects would become brighter, expressing optimism about continued engagement between the two governments.

Trade and security also discussed

The upbeat remarks came after the leaders discussed a range of issues that have tested relations between the two countries. 

Trade, artificial intelligence and the Iran war were among the subjects scheduled for their Washington meetings.

During Thursday's summit, Xi called for regular dialogue between the two militaries and urged both countries to avoid conflict and confrontation.

“We should hold the line of no conflict,” Xi said, adding that the two countries “stand to gain from cooperation and will both lose in conflict.”

He also addressed artificial intelligence, saying both countries had the capability and responsibility to manage its development for the public good.

“China keeps its door wide open and welcomes American companies who want to do business and invest there,” Xi said. He added that China hoped its companies would be treated fairly in the United States.

At Thursday's state dinner, Trump praised Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, as “truly outstanding, amazing people,” but did not discuss the substance of the earlier meetings or mention Iran and artificial intelligence.

Xi, meanwhile, said the leaders had reached “common understanding on many issues” through what he described as sincere exchanges.

Trump's Friday comments offered a positive public account of the visit, particularly for farmers, but did not spell out the specific trade outcomes he expected them to welcome.