Trump welcomes China’s Xi with fanfare, but no breakthroughs emerge

US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday for a lavish summit that was more about symbolism than substance, with no tangible progress on key issues such as AI, trade, Taiwan and the Iran conflict. The leaders, along with their spouses, attended a state dinner featuring sesame-crusted sea bass and a guest list filled with tech CEOs.

Outside the White House, protesters chanted slogans like "China out of Hong Kong," audible to the leaders as they posed for pictures on the red-carpeted steps.

In his dinner toast, Trump acknowledged their different political systems but emphasized the enduring ties between their peoples. He invited dinner guests to tour the new ballroom under construction, hours after showing Xi the new helipad in the White House complex. Construction projects are often a diversion for Trump, who has focused on reconstructing Washington's physical infrastructure.

Xi and Trump had in-depth discussions and reached a "common understanding" on many issues, providing new strategic guidance for China-US relations, according to Xi. He called for responsible major countries to get along, emphasizing the need for a new approach for major countries to interact. The summit took place against the backdrop of rising public concern about AI's rapid growth and the ongoing war between the US and Iran, which has led to soaring energy prices and impacted Trump's approval ratings before the November midterm elections.

During a bilateral discussion, Xi urged the US to oppose Taiwan independence, addressing one of the most contentious issues between the two countries. The White House has not yet released its own summary of the talks. Xi had expected to pressure Trump to halt arms sales to Taiwan, but the recent visit saw Trump delay a $14 billion arms package to Taiwan, calling it a valuable negotiating tool. China considers Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out using force to gain control over the island.

The summit came shortly after Trump defended his military actions in a UN speech, suggesting he could "annihilate" Iran. However, in his meeting with Xi, Trump shifted to a more conciliatory tone, emphasizing their strong personal relationship. Xi stressed that the interests of both countries were deeply intertwined and that competition between them should be healthy, welcoming US companies in China and hoping for fair treatment of Chinese companies in the US.