Trump, Xi open Beijing summit after ceremonial welcome at Great Hall
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping opened talks in Beijing after a red-carpet ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. The summit began with cordial public remarks and is set to cover Iran, trade and Taiwan.
BEIJING: US President Donald Trump on Thursday told China’s Xi Jinping their countries would have “a fantastic future together”, as they began a superpower summit in Beijing on thorny issues including Iran, trade and Taiwan.
Heaping praise on his host, Trump told Xi it was “an honour to be your friend”, as the Chinese leader, in less effusive tones, said the two sides “should be partners and not rivals”.
Xi had greeted Trump with a red carpet welcome at the opulent Great Hall of the People with military band fanfare, a gun salute and a host of schoolchildren jumping and chanting “welcome!”.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump review the honour guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 14, 2026. —Reuters
Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) honour guards hold flags on the day of the welcome ceremony for US President Donald Trump by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 14, 2026. —Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump and US Ambassador to China David Perdue participate in an expanded bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 14, 2026. —Reuters
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