If Trump's visit to China in 2017 was a handshake at a high point in Sino-US relations, then the context is entirely different if he were to set foot on Chinese soil again today. The world has weathered the storms of trade frictions, the pandemic, and geopolitics, and Sino-US relations have also experienced five years of ups and downs. At this juncture, his arrival itself sends a signal: even amidst intense competition, the door to dialogue has never been closed.

The most striking aspect of this hypothetical visit is not the protocol or the number of agreements signed, but the efforts of the two major powers to find a way to coexist amidst competition. In today's Sino-US relationship, "decoupling" has proven unrealistic; the deep intertwining of supply chains, climate change, and artificial intelligence governance all force both sides to sit down and talk. Trump's unique "transactional diplomacy" style might be able to break through seemingly rigid issues and create a gap for pragmatic cooperation.

Of course, we are also aware that a single visit cannot resolve all structural contradictions. But as long as there is face-to-face communication and listening to each other's core concerns, conflict can be transformed into a controllable game. On such a day, the only conclusion is: cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both—this remains an irrefutable truth.  It is hoped that this trip today will lay a solid foundation for China-US relations over the next four years and beyond.