China's Xi Jinping and US President Trump opened bilateral talks with cautious optimism about their nations' relationship. Xi congratulated the US on its upcoming 250th independence anniversary while emphasizing that cooperation benefits both countries while confrontation harms them. The Chinese leader invoked the ancient Greek concept of the Thucydides Trap, warning against the historical pattern where rising powers clash with established ones. He called for the world's two largest economies to become partners rather than rivals and pursue common prosperity. The talks come as both nations navigate significant economic and geopolitical tensions, with Xi stressing that common interests between China and the United States are bigger than their differences.
