US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged warm remarks before joining guests for a White House state dinner, with both leaders speaking about the importance of ties between the two countries and their hopes for a more stable relationship.Trump welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to the White House alongside first lady Melania Trump. The state dinner in the East Room brought together senior US officials, business leaders and executives from some of America’s biggest technology companies.In his remarks, Trump said the two leaders represented different political systems but stressed the enduring ties between the American and Chinese peoples.“As the leaders of our two nations, President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure, and we’ve never gotten along better…Together, we can continue to build a relationship that promotes prosperity and security for future generations”Trump also welcomed Xi and Peng to Washington, recalling his own visit to Beijing and saying the United States hoped to extend the same hospitality to the Chinese delegation.“This is a great honor. President Xi, Madam Peng and members of the Chinese delegation, Melania and I are delighted to welcome you once again to the White House. You are truly outstanding, amazing people. The hospitality of the Chinese people was on full display during my visit to Beijing. We hope to show you the same honor as you returned to Washington for the first time in over a decade…”
Xi calls for a new chapter in US-China ties
Xi also struck a conciliatory tone, using the imagery of a flowing river and flowers to describe the relationship between the two countries.“Like a river that never stops flowing, history never stands still. The friendship between the two peoples is a worthy cause that holds great promise. Let us join hands and move forward side by side. Together, let us nurture the beautiful flowers of Sino-US friendship. Together, let us write a new chapter in our friendly relations”Xi referred to Trump’s visit to China earlier this year and said the two presidents had agreed to work toward a constructive relationship based on strategic stability.“In May this year, President Trump paid a successful visit to China at my invitation. We agreed to build a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability. During the visit, President Trump warmly invited me to visit the United States, and I have come as promised. In less than half a year, the Chinese and American presidents have exchanged state visits, making history in our bilateral engagement. Today, President Trump and I had sincere and in-depth exchanges and reached a common understanding on many issues. This has added new substance to the constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability and provided new strategic guidance for China-U.S. relations”Xi also thanked Trump and Melania Trump for their hospitality during the visit.“Thank you, Mr. President and Mrs. Trump, for extending to my wife and me your gracious hospitality and thoughtful arrangements. You and Mrs. Trump have made many special arrangements for our visit, all prepared with meticulous care and consideration in every detail. You make us feel truly at home. I would also like to extend my sincere greetings to Americans from all sectors of society who care about China-U.S. relations and support the further growth of our bilateral ties...”
Trump presents Xi with bald eagle gift
Trump also presented Xi with a gift made by an American artist, saying it had been designed in collaboration with Melania Trump. He described the bald eagle as a national symbol of the United States.“I present President Xi with a gift made by an extraordinary American artist, one of the greatest in the world and designed in personal collaboration with Melania and myself. The bald eagle is a national symbol of the United States and an embodiment of the free and soaring spirit of America. We hope it’ll find a nice place, a wonderful place in Beijing…”
Tech leaders, CEOs among state dinner guests
The dinner brought together prominent figures from the technology, finance and media sectors. Among those attending were Apple CEO Tim Cook, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and TikTok investor Jeff Yass.The guest list also included senior figures from the financial sector, including the CEOs of JPMorgan Chase, BlackRock and Goldman Sachs. LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla were also present.Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Laura Ingraham, along with Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, were among the media and entertainment figures attending.The dinner was held in the White House East Room. The White House said the menu combined American ingredients with Chinese influences and included a toast with Schramsberg Blanc de Noir, followed by dishes including sea bass and a dessert featuring White House honey.The state dinner came as Washington and Beijing continued to manage disagreements over trade, Taiwan, artificial intelligence, advanced technology and critical minerals. The public warmth displayed by Trump and Xi contrasted with the range of issues still shaping the US-China relationship.
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