President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping walked in together to the sound of claps and ceremonial music at a lavish welcoming State Banquet hosted by the Middle Kingdom – ready to partake in food diplomacy.
The two took their seats, seemingly in good spirits as the translator announced Xi’s toast to kick-off the night. Xi welcomed the US President and his delegation that traveled far to attend the event.
Xi said in his speech that both countries can ‘help each other succeed’ and ‘advance the well-being of the whole world.’
Xi called for a new era of ‘strategic civility’ between the world’s two largest economies on Thursday, telling visiting Trump that the bilateral relationship is too critical to global stability to ‘mess up.’
Xi struck a tone of mutual ambition, linking China’s long-term development goals with Trump’s domestic agenda. The address, delivered during Trump’s state visit to China, emphasized that the success of one nation does not have to come at the expense of the other.
‘The people of China and the United States are both great people,’ Xi said. ‘Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great can go hand in hand. We can help each other succeed and advance the well-being of the whole world.’
He even used Trump’s favorite phrase: ‘Make America great.’
Xi framed the meeting within a wider historical context, noting that this year marks the start of China’s 15-year economic plan and the 250th anniversary of American independence. He also looked back 65 years to the ‘milestone’ diplomacy of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, which ended two decades of frozen relations.
Xi said in his opening speech that both countries can ‘help each other succeed’ and ‘advance the well-being of the whole world’
Under the ‘new situation’ of modern global politics, Xi argued that ‘mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation’ remain the only viable paths forward.
‘The world today is changing and turbulent,’ Xi said. ‘Both sides should rise up to this historic responsibility and steer the giant ship of China/US relations forward, steadily and in the right direction.’
The banquet features a remarkable red, white and green design theme, complete with white table cloths at the Great Hall of the People.
Trump’s cabinet members are seen mingling at the dinner – including Secretary Rubio, Hegseth, Steven Miller, Scott Bessent, his communications lead Steven Cheung and powerful CEO’s across the technology sector like Tim Cook from Apple.
Earlier, during their two-hour summit, Xi warned Trump that if Taiwan is ‘mishandled’, the US and China ‘will clash, or even come into conflict, pushing the entire relationship into a very dangerous situation,’ state media channel CCTV reported.
Trump, seemingly unfazed by Xi’s classical reference, was effusive in return and praised the pageantry of his welcome, calling it ‘an honor like few have ever seen before’, and singling out the ‘happy and beautiful’ children for special praise.
On their meeting, a White House official told The Daily Mail: ‘President Trump had a good meeting with President Xi of China. The two sides discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation between our two countries, including expanding market access for American businesses into China and increasing Chinese investment into our industries.’
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have arrived at a lavish welcoming State Banquet hosted by the Middle Kingdom – ready to partake in food diplomacy
Xi said in his speech that both countries can ‘help each other succeed’ and ‘advance the well-being of the whole world’
The banquet features a red white and green design theme, complete with white table cloths at the Great Hall of the People
The banquet features a red white and green design theme, complete with white table cloths at the Great Hall of the People
Trump’s cabinet members are seen mingling at the dinner – including Secretary Rubio, Hegseth, Steven Miller, Scott Bessent and his communications lead Steven Cheung
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ahead of a state banquet for President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People
Trump walked over to Xi, who was waiting by the steps, and the pair shook hands, with Trump warmly patting the Chinese leader’s hand as they exchanged a few words
President Donald Trump participates in a welcome ceremony with China’s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Beijing
President Donald Trump participates in a welcome ceremony with China’s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Beijing
President Donald Trump participates in a welcome ceremony with China’s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, Thursday, May 14
Xi Jinping speaks during a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People on May 14
US President Donald Trump participates in an expanded bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 14
They continued: ‘Leaders from many of the United States’ largest companies joined a portion of the meeting. The Presidents also highlighted the need to build on progress in ending the flow of fentanyl precursors into the United States, as well as increasing Chinese purchases of American agricultural products.’
Trump had been dazzled a day earlier by the full red-carpet treatment laid on by his Chinese host, lavished with imperial pomp rarely afforded a US leader as he was met by goose-stepping troops, thundering cannons and flag-waving children.
The White House further said that two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy.
President Xi also made clear China’s opposition to the militarization of the Strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use, and he expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China’s dependence on the Strait in the future.
Both countries also agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.
It is Trump’s first face-to-face with Xi since the Iran war erupted on February 28.
The mood appeared upbeat as American business leaders were met by reporters as they left the Great Hall after the initial talks.
Tesla boss Elon Musk, Nvidia chief Jensen Huang and Apple’s Tim Cook were spotted filing down the steps toward their bus.
‘Wonderful,’ Musk declared. Asked what had been achieved, the world’s richest man replied: ‘Many good things.’
Cook flashed a peace sign followed by a thumbs up, while Huang told the press gaggle: ‘Meetings went well. Mr Xi and President Trump were incredible.’
The President’s motorcade swept into Tiananmen Square at 10.01am Thursday almost exactly on schedule, with Trump emerging moments later in his signature dark suit and red tie to a blaring military fanfare.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, stands with US President Donald Trump during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing
US President Donald Trump (R) and China’s President Xi Jinping (L) greet children waving Chinese and US national flags and flowers during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14
US President Donald Trump is welcomed by children during a ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (bottom C), US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (bottom centre R), Secretary of State Marco Rubio (bottom R), Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang (second row R), senior advisor Stephen Miller (bottom L), Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (centre R second row) and Apple CEO Tim Cook (centre L middle row) attend a welcome ceremony for US President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14
An honor guard stands at attention prior to a welcome ceremony for US President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People on May 14
Trump salutes next to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on May 14
He walked over to Xi, who was waiting by the steps, and the pair shook hands, with Trump affectionately patting the Chinese leader’s hand as they exchanged a few words.
Xi, accompanied by Trump, then worked the front row of the heavyweight US delegation lined up on the steps, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The two leaders then mounted a red and gold dais as a military band struck up the Star Spangled Banner and troops in full ceremonial dress marched past.
Thundering cannon salutes boomed across Tiananmen Square round after round as Trump stood beside Xi, before the President broke into a broad smile as he saluted the troops.
A crowd of brightly dressed Chinese schoolchildren waved flowers and US and Chinese flags while chanting ‘welcome, welcome, welcome to China’.
The pair finally swept into the Great Hall after around 20 minutes of pageantry, US cabinet secretaries, officials and American business executives filing in behind them.
The two leaders buckled down for a roughly two-hour bilateral behind closed doors.
Trump plans to press Xi to lean on Iran to accept a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Xi is widely expected to push for tariff relief and access to American-designed AI chips.
The summit was originally slated for March but was postponed when the war broke out.
Trump participates in an welcome ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 14
Trump and Xi, leading the world’s two largest economies, have plenty to hammer out over their two days together.
Trump called on Xi to ‘open up’ his economy further to US businesses on Wednesday, with a 17-strong cohort of American CEOs flown in to the White House to act as economic negotiators and iron out roadblocks to further investment.
The President arrived late Wednesday evening local time in the Chinese capital before heading to his hotel for rest.
Tomorrow, before the President heads back to the US, he will participate in a bilateral tea and working lunch.
