Trump praised Xi as a "great leader" and called the talks a "cherished" opportunity—a stark contrast to his past rhetoric, where he accused China of "raping" the US, called COVID-19 the "Chinese virus," and vowed to "make China pay."

The visit comes after a brutal trade war that saw tariffs exceed 100% on both sides. While a fragile truce is in place, key questions remain over whether it will hold and what deal might replace it. The two leaders also face tension over Taiwan - Xi warned it could lead to conflict - and Iran, where Washington hopes Beijing can help broker a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Beijing's choreography served dual purposes: flattering Trump ahead of negotiations, and projecting strength to a global audience. China now produces a third of the world's goods, processes over 90% of rare earth minerals, and dominates clean-energy manufacturing. Xi is positioning himself as a stable global leader amid Trump's unpredictable foreign policy, and many world leaders - including from US allies - have engaged Beijing.

Accompanying Trump was a delegation of 30 CEOs, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Nvidia's Jensen Huang, signaling the trip's focus on business access. Trump wants China to open its markets to US firms, while Xi may seek concessions on Taiwan arms sales and more favorable trade terms.

The White House confirmed the two sides discussed expanding US market access and Chinese investment, and agreed that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon. Xi was invited to the White House in September. At the banquet, Xi raised a toast, saying "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" and "Make America great again" can go hand in hand. No concrete deal has been announced yet, but Friday's meetings may yield more details. (BBC)