The meeting took place at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People following a ceremonial reception, according to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, and comes as Myanmar’s military government seeks to consolidate political legitimacy following the 2021 coup that ousted the elected administration of Aung San Suu Kyi.

China has remained Myanmar’s most significant external partner since Western countries severed or downgraded ties after the coup, and has played a role as a regional power broker in efforts to manage the country’s civil war and border stability.

Xi told Min Aung Hlaing that China supports Myanmar in balancing development and security and pursuing a development path aligned with national conditions, while also calling for continued cooperation between the two countries on combating transnational crimes such as online fraud, illegal gambling and drug trafficking.

The Chinese president also emphasised the importance of dialogue among all parties in Myanmar to advance peace and reconciliation, describing the bilateral relationship as one that has “stood together through thick and thin,” according to state media.

Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Beijing, his second since becoming civilian president in 2021, comes amid ongoing conflict inside Myanmar and increasing scrutiny of cross-border scam networks operating in border regions, which have affected Chinese citizens.

Beijing has also maintained defence and economic ties with Myanmar’s military authorities, while supporting limited ceasefires brokered with some armed groups operating along the countries’ shared border.

Myanmar’s political crisis, triggered by the 2021 military takeover, has fuelled armed conflict across the country and contributed to severe economic disruption, while also increasing its strategic importance in regional supply chains, including rare earth mineral production.

The agreement emerged during the opening phase of a two-day summit in the Chinese capital that both sides framed as an effort to preserve cooperation between the world’s two largest economies despite disputes over trade, Taiwan and global security.

Xi told Trump that stable ties between China and the United States benefited the international community and warned that confrontation between the two countries would damage both sides.“When we cooperate, both sides benefit; when we confront each other, both sides suffer,” Xi said during opening remarks at the Great Hall of the People.

Trump, whose approval ratings have come under pressure amid the Iran war and rising inflation, described the gathering as potentially “the biggest summit ever” and invited Xi to visit Washington later this year.During a state banquet, Trump praised Xi as “a great leader” and said the two countries would pursue broader cooperation despite ongoing strategic rivalry.

Chinese officials said economic negotiations held in South Korea on Wednesday between US and Chinese trade teams had produced “balanced and positive outcomes,” aimed at preserving a trade truce reached last October that suspended steep tariffs and eased tensions over rare earth exports.

The leaders also discussed expanding cooperation in agriculture, trade and artificial intelligence while exchanging views on conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.Taiwan remained a central point of friction.

Xi warned Trump that mishandling the issue could push bilateral relations toward “a dangerous situation,” according to China’s foreign ministry.Taiwan, the democratically governed island claimed by Beijing, continues to receive military support from Washington under longstanding US law despite the absence of formal diplomatic recognition.

Joining Trump in Beijing were senior US business executives including Elon Musk and Jensen Huang, reflecting Washington’s push for greater access to Chinese markets and reduced trade imbalances.China, meanwhile, is seeking relief from US export restrictions on advanced semiconductors and chipmaking equipment.

Analysts said shifting geopolitical conditions have altered the balance of the relationship since Trump’s previous Beijing visit in 2017. While China’s economy has slowed, Beijing faces less immediate domestic political pressure than Washington, where inflation, legal disputes over tariffs and the Iran conflict have complicated Trump’s agenda ahead of midterm elections.

The Iran conflict also featured prominently in discussions, with Trump expected to encourage Beijing to press Tehran toward a diplomatic settlement. However, analysts said China was unlikely to significantly reduce support for Iran, which Beijing views as an important strategic partner and counterweight to US influence.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was in China’s economic interest to help stabilize the Gulf region, noting that disruptions in shipping and trade would affect Chinese exports and maritime traffic.

The meeting, held at the Great Hall of the People, comes as Beijing increases military and political pressure on Taiwan, which it claims as its territory. Cheng is visiting China on what she described as a “peace mission” aimed at reducing tensions.

Xi reiterated Beijing’s long-standing “One China” position, stating that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one nation and calling Taiwan independence the “chief culprit” undermining regional stability.

He urged collaboration between China’s Communist Party and Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang to promote national reunification.Cheng said she hoped to foster mutually beneficial relations and expand exchanges, adding that dialogue could help prevent the Taiwan Strait from becoming a flashpoint for international conflict.

Taiwan’s government rejected Beijing’s stance, with top policymaker Chiu Chui-cheng saying only Taiwan’s people could determine the island’s future and calling on China to engage with its democratically elected leadership.

Beijing has refused to hold talks with President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a separatist. The current divide traces back to 1949, when rival governments split after China’s civil war, with each side maintaining separate political systems.