Xi Jinping Welcomes Trump to Beijing with Honors Amid Trade and Taiwan Tensions

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump with a grand ceremony on the first day of his visit to Beijing, a trip that could reshape ties between the rival superpowers.

A military honor guard lined up outside the Great Hall of the People for Trump, who received a gun salute and heard a band play the U.S. national anthem. The president paused twice to wave to schoolchildren waving Chinese and American flags.

Trump shook hands with Xi and patted his arm in a show of warmth. "You're a great leader. I say it to everybody," Trump said in what seemed like off-the-cuff remarks. During a tour of the 15th-century Temple of Heaven, he told reporters China was beautiful. At the evening banquet, he called the talks a "cherished" opportunity.

The display stood out after Trump built his brand on tough talk about China. "We can't continue to allow China to rape our country, and that's what they're doing," he said at a 2016 campaign rally. In 2020, he accused China of ripping off the United States like no one before and labeled Covid-19 the "Chinese virus." Before returning to office, he promised to "make China pay."

Tariffs topped 100 percent on both sides at the height of last year's trade war. A shaky truce followed, but the visit's big questions include whether it holds and what deal might replace it. Other issues involve Iran, where Beijing might help broker a deal, and Taiwan, the self-governing U.S. ally that China claims as its own.

Beijing staged the event to flatter Trump and the 30 CEOs with him, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, ahead of negotiations. State media soon quoted Xi saying Taiwan tensions could complicate matters.

The choreography also aimed at a global audience watching live. "We are witnessing a historical change," said John Delury, a senior fellow at the Asia Society's Centre on U.S.-China Relations. "I hesitate to put too much on this specific summit, but the inexorable rise of China to a place where it is legitimately rivalling the U.S. - that is now happening before our eyes. Beijing is now the second world capital."

Xi has cast himself as a steady leader against Trump's volatility. Leaders from U.S. allies like Canada, the UK and Germany attended, seeking deals with China, whose trade with the world grew during Trump's first term despite tariff threats.

Last year, China hit back with matching tariffs and export curbs on rare earth minerals vital for manufacturing. Washington negotiated, and tariffs eased. China produces a third of global goods, over 90 percent of rare earth processing, and 60 to 80 percent of solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles.

Human rights concerns and China's ties to Moscow and Pyongyang have faded amid Trump's global shifts. China holds leverage as Trump seeks help on Iran after the Strait of Hormuz blockage disrupted energy flows. Beijing is Iran's top trade partner.

"It's in their interest to resolve this," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News before the trip. "And we hope to convince them to play a more active role."

China wants concessions, including on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, despite legal obligations to defend the island. Reporters' questions about Taiwan at the Temple of Heaven went unanswered.

Unlike Trump's prior visit with Melania Trump, this one spotlights business. The White House said the sides discussed expanding U.S. firms' access to China and Chinese investment in U.S. industries. On Iran, they agreed Iran cannot have nuclear weapons and the Strait of Hormuz must stay open for energy flows.

The leaders meet again Friday. Trump seeks a win amid falling approval ratings. Xi suggested more purchases of U.S. soybeans, beef and Boeing planes. They called ties "constructive, strategic and stable" for the next three years.

Trump praised the "magnificent welcome like no other" and invited Xi to the White House in September. Xi said China's "great rejuvenation" and "Make America Great Again" can align. He toasted the future of both nations: "Cheers."