dexinwin WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2026— Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a toast at a state dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House on Thursday evening, reviewing more than two centuries of China-U.S. exchanges and highlighting historical moments of cooperation and people-to-people friendship.
The dinner was held on September 24 during Xi's state visit to the United States. Xi and Trump both delivered remarks during the event. In his toast, Xi said that China-U.S. relations were once again standing at a “new historical starting point” and called for the two countries to explore a path toward relations between major powers.
Xi Thanks Trump for the Welcome
Xi opened his remarks by thanking Trump and Melania Trump for their hospitality and the arrangements made for his visit.
He also extended greetings to Americans from all sectors who care about and support the development of China-U.S. relations.
Xi noted that people in China were celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, traditionally regarded in China as a time for family reunion, and wished those attending the dinner and their families happiness during the holiday.
The remarks set a warm and ceremonial tone before Xi turned to the longer history of relations between the two countries.
Recalling More Than 200 Years of Exchanges
Xi traced China-U.S. relations back more than 200 years, saying that after the founding of the United States, the country began looking toward China and the two sides established trade exchanges.
He described the historical relationship in terms of interaction and complementarity, placing the current relationship within a much longer period of contact between the two peoples.
Xi then moved to the period more than 80 years ago, when China and the United States fought together against Japanese militarism during World War II.
He said the friendship forged through that period of conflict should be passed down from generation to generation.
Xi Recalls “Ping-Pong Diplomacy”
Another key historical reference in the toast was “Ping-Pong Diplomacy,” which took place more than five decades ago.
Xi said the exchange helped reopen a long-closed door between China and the United States and described the efforts of leaders of the older generation on both sides as an example of political wisdom that helped set the process of normalization in motion.
He also referred to a redwood tree presented by then-President Richard Nixon that was later planted in China's Zhejiang Province, a place where Xi had worked.
The reference connected a well-known episode in the history of China-U.S. relations with a personal element from Xi's own experience.
Xi Tells the Story of “Saikous”
One of the more personal stories in Xi's toast concerned an American named “Saikous.”
Xi said that more than 20 years ago, the American had supported Chinese desertification-control worker Yin Yuzhen in planting trees. After returning to China recently, Saikous saw that an area that had once been desert had been transformed into a green forest.
Xi described the story as one that had touched many Chinese people and as an example of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.
The story also reflected one of the central themes of Xi's remarks: that people-to-people exchanges can create connections that extend beyond government-to-government relations.
People-to-People Exchanges Highlighted
Xi said cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States help promote communication between the two peoples and build a broader public foundation for bilateral friendship and cooperation.
By bringing together stories from different periods—including wartime cooperation, Ping-Pong Diplomacy and the story of an American supporting China's desertification-control efforts—Xi presented people-to-people interaction as a continuing element in the history of bilateral relations.
Xi Says Relations Stand at a “New Historical Starting Point”
Turning to the present, Xi said China-U.S. relations were once again at a “new historical starting point.”
He referred to Trump's goal of making America great again and China's efforts toward national rejuvenation, saying that both goals are ambitious and can “achieve each other.”
Xi called on both sides to demonstrate responsibility as major countries, respond to the expectations of their peoples and the direction of the times, and explore a new way for major countries to coexist.
The remarks represented one of the central messages of the toast: despite differences between the two countries, their respective national development goals do not necessarily have to be viewed as incompatible.
The Leaders Met Again Less Than Six Months After Their Previous Visits
The state dinner came during Xi's September 23–25 state visit to the United States at Trump's invitation.
Xi noted in his toast that Trump had visited China in May and that the two leaders had agreed at the time to build a constructive and strategically stable China-U.S. relationship.
Xi said that the two leaders' visits to each other's countries in less than six months had created a notable moment in the history of bilateral exchanges.
Earlier on September 24, Trump held a formal welcome ceremony for Xi at the White House. The two presidents also delivered remarks during that ceremony.
Xi Calls for a New Chapter in China-U.S. Friendship
Toward the end of his toast, Xi said that the prospects for friendship between the Chinese and American peoples were broad.
He called on the two sides to move forward together, cultivate the “beautiful flower” of China-U.S. friendship and write a new chapter in relations between the two peoples.
He then proposed a toast to the health of President Trump and Melania Trump, the prosperity and progress of China and the United States, and friendship between the peoples of the two countries.
The toast concluded an evening that brought together the two presidents, their spouses and guests from various sectors of Chinese and American society at the White House.
While the state dinner was primarily a ceremonial event, Xi's remarks also offered a concise outline of the historical and people-to-people themes that China is emphasizing in its engagement with the United States during the current high-level diplomatic exchange.
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