China, US reach eight agreements after Xi-Trump talks

By Yankuba Jallow

China and the United States have reached eight agreements covering trade, artificial intelligence, security, international affairs and law enforcement following Chinese president Xi Jinping’s state visit to the US.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the agreements on Saturday after Xi’s visit from 23 to 25 September.

The two governments agreed to work towards what they described as “a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability on the basis of respect, fairness, and reciprocity”.

The announcement followed talks between Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump, who discussed bilateral relations as well as major international and regional issues.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the two countries also agreed to support each other in hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and the G20 Summit. Xi and Trump intend to attend each other’s meetings, the ministry said.

Iran and international waterways were also discussed. The two leaders agreed that Iran should honour its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons. They also agreed that “no country or institution can be allowed to impose tolls on international waterways”, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Xi and Trump also recalled the countries’ cooperation during the Second World War.

“The two heads of state recall that China and the U.S. were allies in World War II and fought side by side to win the war,” the ministry said.

Trade was another key part of the agreements. The two sides endorsed the results of recent economic and trade consultations, including plans to establish and develop a Board of Trade and other mechanisms.

They also reached an arrangement for a $30bn reciprocal tariff reduction and agreed to extend the results of earlier economic and trade consultations held in Kuala Lumpur.

The countries also highlighted cooperation between their law enforcement and counter-narcotics agencies. The ministry said the cooperation had produced “visible outcomes”, including joint investigations into cases involving new psychoactive substances and precursor chemicals.

“Recently, the two sides working closely together have jointly cracked multiple cases involving New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and precursor chemicals, and apprehended dozens of relevant criminal suspects in the two countries,” it said.

Artificial intelligence was also included in the new understandings. China and the US agreed to establish a China-US AI Dialogue to discuss the risks and benefits linked to artificial intelligence.

The next exchange will take place in November 2026, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The two sides will also establish a bilateral communication channel for AI-related incidents. The eighth agreement involves giant pandas. The United States has welcomed the arrival of two pandas leased by China to Zoo Atlanta. The agreements also included additional military cooperation.

The Chinese and US militaries agreed to conclude a memorandum of understanding on crisis communication and prevention “as soon as possible”. They will also continue working together to search for the remains of missing US service members in China.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the eight agreements and additional military understandings were reached during Xi’s three-day state visit to the United States.

Source: China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 26 September 2026.