Trump Lands in Beijing for High-Stakes Talks with Xi Amid Trade and Taiwan Tensions

President Trump received a red-carpet welcome upon landing in Beijing on Wednesday. A military honor guard, band and children waving American and Chinese flags greeted him ahead of high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The ceremony raised questions about whether this visit can produce more lasting progress than Trump's 2017 trip. That earlier journey featured major business announcements but was followed by a sharp deterioration in U.S.-China trade relations.

The meeting occurs as trade tensions, the Iran war and disputes over Taiwan add pressure on Washington and Beijing to stabilize ties between the world's two largest economies.

Children chanted "Welcome, welcome! Warm welcome!" in Chinese during the arrival ceremony.

Trump stepped off Air Force One and was greeted by United States Ambassador to China David Perdue, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the United States Xie Feng, and Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu.

First Lady Melania Trump accompanied Trump nearly nine years ago on his first state visit. The 2017 trip stressed pomp, personal diplomacy and commercial announcements. It included a Forbidden City tour, a Peking opera performance and a formal welcome at the Great Hall of the People.

The 2017 trip announced more than $250 billion in commercial deals and cooperation pledges. But it failed to prevent trade relations from deteriorating in 2018.

Trump announced a $12 billion deal for cellphone chips from Qualcomm and $37 billion for Boeing commercial jets, the Associated Press reported at the time.

"These deals will create jobs for American workers, farmers, and ranchers by increasing United States exports to China and stimulating investment in American communities," the White House said then.

A key focus of the first visit was North Korea's nuclear program. Trump and Xi agreed North Korea should not become a nuclear weapons state. They pledged to apply maximum pressure.

China had tightened enforcement that year by suspending North Korean coal imports. Trump later said Chinese banks were cutting business with North Korean entities. But U.S.-China cooperation faded as trade tensions grew, and North Korea advanced its missile and nuclear programs.

The summit did not stop a sharp drop in trade relations the next year. Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese imports, sparking a prolonged standoff.

Trump's latest visit follows broader tariff escalations. His administration hit imports from dozens of countries with duties. China became the main flashpoint after retaliating and tightening export controls on rare earth minerals. Trump threatened an additional 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods.

Trump plans to press Xi on trade again. He suggests American entrepreneurs and executives could boost growth in China if Beijing lowers barriers and gives U.S. firms more operating room.

Top U.S. executives join Trump on the trip: Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Cargill CEO Brian Sikes, Citi CEO Jane Fraser, GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon.

Iran figures among the talk topics, though Trump has played down differences with Xi over the war.

Trump and Xi will hold bilateral talks and a formal banquet Thursday.