President Xi Jinping welcomed Donald Trump to Beijing with full military honors, including a gun salute and a performance of the U.S. national anthem, as the two superpowers seek to reset strained relations.
Trump, who had previously built his political brand on China-bashing rhetoric, lavished praise on Xi, calling him "a great leader." The visit comes after a tariff war that saw both sides impose duties exceeding 100%, followed by a fragile truce.
Beijing showcased its economic strength, with China now manufacturing one-third of the world's goods and controlling over 90% of rare earth mineral processing. Key issues include trade, Iran's nuclear program, and Taiwan-with Xi warning the issue could lead to conflict.
A 30-member business delegation, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Nvidia's Jensen Huang, accompanied Trump. The White House said both sides agreed Iran must never have a nuclear weapon and that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open.
Xi invited Trump to the White House in September. The leaders agreed to frame ties as "constructive, strategic, and stable" for the next three years.