Remarks: Donald Trump and Xi Jinping of China Exchange Toasts at a State Dinner - September 24, 2026

Thank you very much. Please sit. It is a great honor, President Xi, Madam Liyuan, and members of the Chinese delegation. Melania and I are delighted to welcome you once again to the White House. You are truly outstanding, amazing people. The hospitality of the Chinese people was on full display during my visit to Beijing earlier this year.

And tonight, we hope to show you the same honor as you returned to Washington for the first time in over a decade. Long ago, European explorers first discovered the American continent as they searched for a new way to reach China in the East. That quest produced the modern world, this beautiful country, and ultimately the long relationship between the Chinese and the American people that we are celebrating very happily tonight.

East and West eventually did meet here in America when the first formal delegation of Chinese diplomats came to the United States 158 years ago. In Boston, they met American thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. In New York, they dined with the governor, the mayor, and titans of Wall Street.

And in Washington, they came to the White House for the first ever state dinner between China and the United States. Tonight, we revive the spirit of that first encounter here on American soil as we are joined by some of the top leaders in business, culture, and government from our own time. On one side, China draws on thousands of years of history and tradition from Sun Tzu to Sun Yat-sen.

For Americans, we inherit a legacy of faith from Jerusalem to Rome, the democracy of ancient Athens, the triumphs of Sparta, and the freedom proclaimed in Philadelphia 250 years ago. As the leaders of our two nations, President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure and we've never gotten along better.

Since the first trade ships from New York left the harbor to arrive on the banks of the Pearl River. Americans and Chinese have always exchanged goods, knowledge, customs, and ideas. This has been the foundation of commerce and mutual respect between our countries, and together we can continue to build a relationship that promotes prosperity and security for future generations.

And if I could go off script just for a second, uh, I just wanna say I had to do it. I had to do it. But, uh, as a special treat in honor of President Xi and Madam Peng, I'd like to invite everyone in the room to visit through that beautiful curtain in the back, the door, it's all lit up and looks beautiful.

It's, uh, one year away from completion, the new ballroom that you've heard about, and you will see something that I think you will really love. Presidents have been trying to get this built for 150 years, and I can tell you that tonight, if we had it, we would've had way more than a thousand people with standing room only.

And this room has about 145, that's about it. So they've been looking for this for over 150 years, all presidents, and, uh, they will shortly have it. So in honor of you, you'll be the first people to step foot on that, and we'll do that maybe after we're finished with the entertainment tonight. Anybody who wants to walk into a construction site that's nice and clean and sparkling, it's our honor to have you do so, but this is an honor of President Xi, Madam Peng.

In that spirit of friendship, it's my honor to present President Xi with a gift made by an extraordinary American artist, one of the greatest in the world and designed in personal collaboration with Melania and myself. And, uh, the bald eagle is a national symbol of the United States and an embodiment of the free and soaring spirit of America.

And we hope it'll find a nice place, a wonderful place in Beijing. It's your honor. President Xi and Madam Peng, Melania and I wanna thank you for making your journey, and it is a long journey to America during our 250th year. I'd like to raise a glass and propose a toast to President Xi, Madam Peng, and the long relationship between China and America that has bridged thousands of miles and spanned hundreds of years, and may all of our people know a future of harmony, peace, and success.

And, uh, we're all here today and tonight to honor you both, and thank you very much for coming to America. Thank you. And now, I'd like to ask President Xi to come up and say a few words. Thank you all very much. Thank you.

[Via interpreter] Honorable President Donald J. Trump and Mrs. Melania Trump, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, thank you Mr. President and Mrs. Trump for extending to my wife and me your gracious hospitality and thoughtful arrangements. You and Mrs. Trump have made many special arrangements for our visit, all prepared with meticulous care and consideration in every detail.

[Via interpreter] You make us feel truly at home. I would also like to extend my sincere greetings to Americans from all sectors of society who care about China-US relations and support the further growth of our bilateral ties. As I speak, my compatriots in China are celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, a cherished occasion for family reunion in Chinese tradition.

[Via interpreter] I wish you all a very happy Mid-Autumn Festival and my best wishes to you and your families. In May this year, President Trump paid a successful visit to China at my invitation. We agreed to build a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability. During the visit, President Trump warmly invited me to visit the United States, and I have come as promised.

[Via interpreter] In less than half a year, the Chinese and American presidents have exchanged state visits, making history in our bilateral engagement. Today, President Trump and I had sincere and in-depth exchanges and reached common understanding on many issues. This has added new substance to the constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability and provided new strategic guidance for China-US relations.

[Via interpreter] Not long ago, the United States celebrated the 250th anniversary of its independence. On that occasion, I sent my congratulations on behalf of the Chinese government and people. The past 200 plus years have also witnessed friendly exchanges between China and the United States. Over 200 years ago, soon after its independence, the United States turned its eyes to China.

[Via interpreter] Our two countries started trading with each other, exchanging goods to meet each other's needs and draw on our complementary strengths. In fact, President George Washington had personally acquired a large collection of Chinese porcelain. Over 80 years ago, the Chinese and American people stood shoulder to shoulder in a fight against Japanese militarist aggressors.

[Via interpreter] Together, we opened the famous Hump air route over the Himalayas. During the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, Chinese soldiers and civilians rescued hundreds of American pilots at the cost of hundreds of thousands of Chinese lives. Such a friendship forged in blood and fire will surely live on through the generations.

[Via interpreter] Over 50 years ago, Ping-Pong Diplomacy between China and United States opened the long-closed door of bilateral exchanges. With the political wisdom embodied in a small ball moving the globe, the older generation of Chinese and American statesmen led by Chairman Mao Zedong and President Richard Nixon set in motion the historic process of normalizing relations between our two countries.

[Via interpreter] The redwood trees that President Nixon had presented as a special state gift have taken root in Zhejiang Province where I worked for several years. Over 20 years ago, an American named Ronald Sakolsky gave financial support to Yin Yuzhen, a Chinese desert control worker, for her tree planting effort. Just recently, Ronald, now an elderly man, returned to China.

[Via interpreter] He saw with his own eyes that the desert back then had turned into a lush forest. This story touches the hearts of many Chinese people and stands as a shining example of the friendly exchanges between our two peoples. Exchanges have helped promote heart-to-heart communication between our people and cemented public support for Sino-US friendship and cooperation.

[Via interpreter] Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, reviewing the past gives us new perspectives. Today, we have come to another historic juncture for China-US relations. President Trump has pledged to make America great again and let the American people in making significant strides. China is committed to achieving great national rejuvenation, and Chinese modernization has kept breaking new ground.

[Via interpreter] These two goals are both ambitious and can surely be mutually reinforcing. China and the United States must act as responsible major countries, meet the expectations of our peoples, keep pace with the trend of our times, and explore a new approach for major countries to get along with each other. Like a river that never stops flowing, history never stands still.

[Via interpreter] The friendship between the two peoples is a worthy cause that holds great promise. Let us join hands and move forward side by side. Together, let us nurture the beautiful flowers of Sino-US friendship. Together, let us write a new chapter in our friendly relations. Now, I would like to propose a toast to the health of President and Mrs.

[Via interpreter] Trump, to the prosperity and progress of China and United States, and to the friendship between our two peoples. Cheers. Cheers.