Xi Jinping, China’s leader, told President Trump that if the Taiwan issue were handled poorly, it could lead to a clash with the United States. Later, at a state dinner, they emphasized cooperation.
The summit, the first U.S. presidential visit to China in nearly a decade, could determine whether a détente between the two countries will continue — and what concessions, if any, either side is willing to make.
The leaders met in the Chinese capital in a ceremony laden with pageantry and pleasantries. Mr. Xi greeted Mr. Trump outside the Great Hall of the People, before the two men walked together past an honor guard and rows of cheering children. As “The Star-Spangled Banner” played, a 21-gun salute echoed across Tiananmen Square.
The talks that followed lasted more than two hours. Mr. Xi called for the two countries to “be partners, not adversaries.” Mr. Trump said that he and Mr. Xi spoke on the phone to work out problems and called him “a great leader.”
Later, at an ornate state banquet in the Great Hall, Mr. Xi said in a toast: “The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand.” Mr. Trump thanked Mr. Xi for a “magnificent welcome like none other,” and formally invited Mr. Xi to visit the White House on Sept. 24.