China leaves business leaders at home as Xi courts Trump in Washington

On September 24, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted a state dinner at the White House for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, marking his first visit to the United States in 11 years. The leaders exchanged gifts and discussed strengthening ties between the two nations, which CNN described as "the world's most important bilateral relationship."

Xi arrived in the United States accompanied by his wife, Peng Liyuan, who were greeted by Trump and first lady Melania Trump amidst fanfare. Protesters, chanting "Free Hong Kong," "Free Tibet," and "Free all political prisoners," were heard during the welcome, though CNN was barred from covering the arrival. The East Room held the dinner, with tables decorated in red and gold.

Notable guests included tech executives like Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Trump wore a tuxedo, while Melania opted for a tuxedo-inspired outfit. Xi donned a black suit, complemented by his wife's red dress. The dinner drew attention to AI as a key topic of conversation between the two leaders. Trump toasted to the strong relationship between the U.S. and China and invited guests to tour the new White House ballroom.

Guests dined on dishes such as yellow squash velouté, sesame-crusted sea bass, and vanilla custard with sour cherry confit. Trump presented Xi with a statuette of a bald eagle, symbolizing American freedom, while Xi did not reciprocate during his toast. Prior to the dinner, Xi had announced that China would send two pandas to Zoo Atlanta as diplomatic gifts.