How much did Trump and Xi resolve in their ‘warm’ meeting?

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a lavish state dinner at the White House. During the event, they exchanged warm remarks. However, they gave little indication of progress on several key issues.

Xi stressed that the two countries must ensure that AI remains “under human control” and that they act “as responsible major countries.” Trump, meanwhile, expressed hope for a future filled with “harmony, peace and success” for both countries.

However, tensions between the two countries remained beneath the diplomatic courtesies. These include the issue of Taiwan. Earlier in the day, Xi urged Trump to take the “right position” on the self-governed island that Beijing claims as part of its territory. A major arms package that Trump had put on hold was also discussed.

Guests at the dinner included billionaire businesspeople, Trump administration officials and chief executives from the US technology sector.

Protesters chanted slogans outside as the guests arrived. Several people were also arrested.

Speaking to guests on Thursday night, Trump thanked Xi for traveling a long way to the United States. He also described the relationship between the two leaders as strong.

Trump said, “We have never gotten along better than we do now.”

He praised the long history of US China relations. However, he briefly moved away from the subject of his speech to praise the ongoing ballroom construction project.

Speaking informally, Trump said the Chinese leader and his wife should be the first to enter the ballroom as a “special gift.” However, construction of the ballroom is still about a year from completion.

He said, “It would be our honor to let you enter if you want to enter a beautiful, clean and sparkling construction site.”

Trump also gave Xi a sculpture of the bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States. He said it represented “America’s free and soaring spirit.”

He said, “We hope it will find a beautiful and wonderful place in Beijing. It is an honor for you.”

Trump also said he and First Lady Melania Trump had taken part in designing the sculpture.

Xi, meanwhile, thanked the hosts for welcoming him and his wife “with great care and consideration.” He said this made them feel “truly at home.”

Xi said the two leaders were “making history in bilateral relations.”

He said, “We have agreed to build a constructive China US relationship based on strategic stability.” He also said the two leaders had held “candid and in-depth exchanges” that would further strengthen relations between the two countries.

Like Trump, Xi’s speech also focused heavily on praise. He emphasized the cultural ties and shared history between the United States and China.

Xi said the relationship between the two countries was “forged through blood and fire” while they fought Japan during World War II. He said the relationship later advanced through “ping pong diplomacy” during the Nixon administration.

Trump and Xi sit together at the dinner, Reuters

Toward the end of his speech, Xi said the goals of the United States and China “can reinforce each other.” He called on the two countries to explore “a new approach to coexistence between major countries.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sat at another table. He had a serious expression on his face. His wife sat beside him. Jared Kushner and White House Chief of Staff Monica Crowley were nearby.

The White House invited a large number of US officials as well as conservative media personalities, top technology executives, social media chief executives and other corporate executives.

Members of Trump’s Cabinet as well as his children Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany also attended.

Among the top technology executives present were Apple’s Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Google’s Sundar Pichai, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang.

Cook and Huang both sat at the same table as Trump and Xi. Elon Musk, who previously worked in the Trump administration and led an initiative to reduce the size of the government, was also at the table with them.

Executives from General Motors, Visa, Paramount Skydance, ExxonMobil and several other companies also attended the dinner.

Social media billionaire Mark Zuckerberg was also at the event. Jeff Yass, the US billionaire who is a stakeholder in TikTok’s ownership, was also present.

Before the event, Trump said, “Everybody wanted to be there. I would say the whole technology world, the whole banking world and many others are there.”

Notably absent was Anthropic, one of the world’s largest and most valuable AI companies. The BBC contacted Anthropic to find out whether the company had been invited or had decided not to attend the event itself.

The office of First Lady Melania Trump, which planned the event, said the dinner menu would feature “American ingredients with subtle Chinese influences.”

For the first course, guests were served yellow squash, wild mushrooms and crispy pancetta. They ate at tables covered with red tablecloths. In China, the color red is a symbol of good luck and prosperity.

The main course featured sesame crusted sea bass, braised bok choy and roasted eggplant.

Dessert included vanilla cremeux and sour cherry confit. It was served with ice cream made using “honey collected from the White House.”

Among the wines selected by the first lady was Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs. A bottle from the same vineyard was used during the “Toast to Peace” event held by former US President Richard Nixon and then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in 1972. It was a reference to that occasion.

Trump and Xi will begin the day by having tea with their wives in the Red Room of the White House.

They will then visit the US National Archives and tour the building and its exhibitions. The building, formally known as the National Archives and Records Administration, houses some important documents related to the founding of the United States. These include the US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.

At the end of the day, Xi and his wife will leave Washington.

Source: BBC (Adapted)