US and China must act as responsible powers together, Xi says as Trump toasts friendship at state dinner
Trump said he and Xi had "never gotten along better" as he hosted the Chinese president at the lavish White House event.
On Thursday night, President Donald Trump hosted a state dinner at the White House for Chinese President Xi Jinping, celebrating the burgeoning friendship between the two nations. Xi declared that both countries must act as responsible major powers to meet the expectations of their respective populations. Meanwhile, Trump toasted a harmonious and prosperous future for both nations.
Both leaders pledged to maintain stability between their countries, though experts remain skeptical as to whether Xi's visit will yield significant progress on pressing issues.
Guests at the dinner included billionaire business leaders, Trump administration officials, and US tech CEOs. Protesters gathered outside the event, raising their voices and some were subsequently arrested. Upon arrival, Trump expressed gratitude to Xi for the visit and remarked on the strong bond between the two leaders. He also boasted about the US-China relationship, highlighting their shared history and cultural ties.
Trump further praised his ongoing ballroom project, inviting Xi and his wife to be the first individuals to step inside.
Xi expressed his appreciation for the meticulous care and consideration given to him and his wife, calling it an honor to be received in such a manner. He emphasized the historical significance of the bilateral engagement between the two nations and urged both countries to explore a new approach for coexistence. The dinner featured a menu with American ingredients infused with subtle Chinese influences, highlighting the culinary heritage of both nations.
As the evening progressed, the White House hosted a variety of US officials, conservative broadcasters, tech industry leaders, and social media CEOs. Notable attendees included Apple CEO Tim Cook, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Notably, AI firm Anthropic, one of the world's most valuable tech companies, was notably absent from the event.
Following the dinner, Trump and Xi embarked on a tour of the White House's Red Room, followed by a visit to the National Archives to view historical documents. The Chinese leader and his wife departed Washington later in the day, leaving behind a dinner that celebrated the multifaceted relationship between the United States and China.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
