In brief
- Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit, the first trip by a US president to China in nearly a decade.
- The war in the Middle East, trade and Taiwan are on the agenda for the summit.
United States President Donald Trump has started his trip to Beijing by telling Chinese President Xi Jinping "it's an honour to be your friend", even as his counterpart offered a cautionary warning about avoiding a possible clash between the two nations.
The stark contrast in tone underscored just how far apart the leaders remain on thorny issues, including the war in Iran, trade disputes and the US relationship with Taiwan — and suggests that Trump and Xi's highly anticipated meetings are likely to be stronger on pageantry and symbolism than major breakthroughs.
In remarks before their meeting at the Great Hall of the People moved behind closed doors, Trump was full of platitudes, saying of Xi: "You're a great leader. Sometimes people don't like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it's true."
"It's an honour to be with you. It's an honour to be your friend," Trump said before promising that "the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before".
Xi was less positive, expressing hope that the US and China could avoid conflict while saying that history and the world were asking "whether the two countries can transcend the 'Thucydides Trap' and forge a new model for relations between major powers".
China's leader used a term popular in foreign policy studies, referring to the idea that when a rising power threatens to displace an established power, the result is often war.
"Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both," Xi said. "The two countries should be partners rather than rivals, achieve success together and pursue common prosperity, and chart a correct path for major-country relations in the new era."
Elaborate welcome ceremony
The remarks from each followed a sweeping greeting for Trump outside the Great Hall of the People, an imposing building on Tiananmen Square that houses China's legislature. Cannons boomed a welcome salute, and a band played the US and Chinese national anthems.
The hall featured giant, red-carpeted steps and huge expanses of marble, where soldiers hung large American and Chinese flags. School children in bright colours offered a welcome routine, jumping as the girls waved flowers and the boys hoisted US and Chinese flags while the two leaders walked past them.
The Republican US president is set to visit the Temple of Heaven, a religious complex dating to the 15th century that symbolises the relationship between heaven and earth. Trump and Xi will also attend a state banquet.
The White House has insisted that Trump wouldn't be making the trip without an eye toward securing results before he leaves — suggesting there could be announcements coming on trade, including a Chinese commitment to buy US soybeans, beef and aircraft. Trump administration officials also want to work toward establishing a board of trade with China to address commercial differences between the countries.
But neither side has yet offered concrete details on what might come out of the three-day visit at a time when Beijing's close economic ties to Iran could complicate matters.
Economic questions still loom
Trump's trip comes as Iran continues to dominate his domestic agenda and stoke fears about the prospect of a weakening US economy. The election season ahead of November's midterms — when Republicans will be looking to maintain control of Congress — is also starting to heat up.
The US and Israel's war in Iran has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, stranding oil and natural gas tankers and causing energy prices to spike, threatening global economic growth.
Spending so much time with Xi will afford ample time for potentially tricky discussions on Iran and trade, but also Taiwan and a possible three-way nuclear arms deal featuring the US, China and Russia.
Progress beyond pleasantries might prove elusive.
Back in Washington, the politics of the war got more complicated. Senate Republicans again blocked Democratic legislation to halt hostilities in Iran — but Alaskan Republican senator Lisa Murkowski bucked her party, becoming the third Republican in the chamber to vote against continuing the war.
China is the largest purchaser of Iranian oil, and US secretary of state Marco Rubio said in an interview with Fox News that Trump will make the case for China to exert its influence on Iran.
“We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they’re doing now and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf," Rubio said.
That contradicted Trump, who has downplayed suggestions that he'll press Xi to do more to pressure Iran to open the strait. The president also says pressure on the US economy won't compromise US demands as he negotiates with Iran in the midst of a fragile ceasefire.
Asked as he left the White House if the financial stability of ordinary Americans factors into Iranian negotiations, Trump responded: "Not even a little bit."
"I don't think about Americans' financial situation. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon," Trump said, before going on to suggest that "every American understands" such a position.
Trade and Taiwan talks could be intense
Looming large is the status of Taiwan, given that China is displeased with US plans to sell weapons to the self-governing island that the Chinese government claims as part of its territory.
The Trump administration has approved a US$11 billion (around $15 billion) weapons package for Taiwan, but has yet to begin fulfilling it. Trump has also demonstrated greater ambivalence toward Taiwan — an approach that's raising questions about whether he might be open to dialling back support for the island democracy.
Taiwan is the world's leading chipmaker, producing components essential to the development of artificial intelligence. Trump has sought to bolster trade deals with Taiwan that can stimulate chip production in the US.
The US and China reached a trade truce last year that calmed each side’s threats to impose steep tariffs on the other. The White House says there have been ongoing discussions and mutual interest in extending the agreement, though it is unclear whether any such announcement could come during Trump’s visit.
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