# Xi Attends White House State Dinner Hosted by Trump, Reflects on the Arc of China-US Ties > President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, attended a White House state dinner hosted by Donald Trump on Thursday evening, marking a state visit exchange completed within six months. In his remarks, Xi recalled milestones from ping-pong diplomacy to a tree-planting friendship, and called for a new way for major powers to coexist. - Source: Times of China (Times of China) - Canonical URL: https://timesofchina.cn.com/en/article/xi-trump-state-dinner-white-house-2026 - Chinese edition: https://timesofchina.cn.com/article/xi-trump-state-dinner-white-house-2026 - Author: 中国时报编辑部 - Section: World - Published: 2026-09-25T20:00:00+08:00 - Updated: 2026-09-25T20:00:00+08:00 - Tags: 习近平, 特朗普, 白宫国宴, 中美关系, 国事访问 --- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, attended a state dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, at the White House in Washington on Thursday evening local time. ## Mid-Autumn wishes at the White House Xi and Peng were warmly welcomed by the American presidential couple upon arrival, and the two couples posed for photos together and met with guests at the dinner. After the meal began, Xi and Trump each delivered remarks. Xi extended his sincere greetings and best wishes for the Mid-Autumn Festival to Americans from all walks of life who care about and support the growth of China-US relations. He noted that Trump had made a successful visit to China in May, meaning the two heads of state had exchanged state visits within the span of six months, a first in the history of the bilateral relationship. He said common understanding had been reached on many issues during this visit, adding fresh substance to a constructive China-US relationship built on strategic stability and offering new strategic direction for the ties between the two countries. ## From ping-pong diplomacy to a tree-planting friendship Xi recalled that more than 200 years ago, not long after its independence, the United States turned its attention toward China, and the two countries began trading with each other, exchanging goods to meet each other's needs and drawing on their complementary strengths. He said that more than 80 years ago, the Chinese and American people had stood shoulder to shoulder in the fight against Japanese militarist aggression, and that a friendship forged in that shared struggle would be carried forward across generations. He also recalled that more than 50 years ago, ping-pong diplomacy reopened a door to exchange between the two countries that had been closed for years, with an older generation of Chinese and American statesmen using the political wisdom of a small ball moving the globe to set in motion the historic process of normalizing relations. Xi also told the story of Ronald Sakolsky, an American who more than two decades ago gave financial support to Chinese desert restoration worker Yin Yuzhen for her tree-planting efforts, calling it a story that has touched the hearts of many people in China and a vivid example of friendly exchange between the two peoples. He said such exchanges have helped foster genuine understanding between the two peoples and have strengthened public support for friendship and cooperation between China and the United States. ## Another turning point in history Xi said China-US relations have arrived at another historical juncture. He said Trump's pledge to make America great again and China's own pursuit of national rejuvenation are both ambitious goals that can reinforce one another, and that the two countries need to act as responsible major powers, meet the expectations of their two peoples, keep pace with the trends of the times, and explore a new way for major countries to coexist. He said that just as a river never stops flowing, history never stands still, and that the friendship between the two peoples is a cause with great promise. He called on both sides to join hands and move forward together, nurture the friendship between China and the United States, and write a new chapter in their relationship. The state dinner was held in a warm, cordial atmosphere and featured performances by American artists. --- Originally published by Times of China. Free to cite with attribution and a link to https://timesofchina.cn.com/en/article/xi-trump-state-dinner-white-house-2026.