US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged friendly words during a lavish state dinner at the White House, but they gave little indication of progress on pressing issues.
Xi stressed the need for countries to ensure that artificial intelligence remains “under human control” and act as “responsible major countries,” while Trump wished a toast to a future of “harmony, peace and success” for the two countries.
But tensions remain despite the diplomatic niceties, including the dispute over Taiwan, as Xi called on Trump earlier in the day to take the “correct position” regarding the autonomous island that Beijing claims sovereignty over, at a time when Trump suspended a large package of weapons allocated to it.
The list of dinner guests included billionaire businessmen, Trump administration officials, and CEOs of American technology companies, but their arrival coincided with the chants of protesters gathered outside the ceremony, where some of them were arrested.
In a speech to the audience late on Thursday, Trump thanked President Xi for incurring the hardship of the long trip to the United States, stressing that their relationship is strong.
“Our relationship has never been better than it is now,” Trump said.
He also praised the long history of US-Chinese relations, although he departed from the written text to speak admiringly about the ballroom project currently being worked on in the White House.
In that spontaneous moment, Trump said that, with a “special gesture,” the Chinese leader and his wife could become the first to enter the hall, although it still takes a year to complete it.
“Anyone who wants to visit a beautiful, clean, shiny construction site is an honor to do so,” he said.
Trump also presented Xi with a sculpture of a bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States, which he said embodies "the free, soaring spirit of America."
He said: "We hope that this statue will find a beautiful and wonderful place in Beijing. It is an honor for you."
Trump added that he and First Lady Melania participated in designing the sculpture.
For his part, Xi thanked his hosts for receiving him and his wife with “meticulous care and attention,” which made them “truly feel at home.”
He said that the two leaders are "making history through their bilateral dealings."
“We agreed to build a constructive Sino-American relationship based on strategic stability,” Xi added, noting that they held “sincere and in-depth talks” that would strengthen relations between the two countries.
Xi's statements - like Trump's statements - were flattering, focusing on the cultural ties and shared history between the United States and China.
He pointed out that the relationship between the two countries was “solidified by blood and fire” during the war against Japan in World War II, before it was later strengthened during the era of “ping-pong diplomacy” during the Nixon administration.
Concluding his speech, Xi said that the goals of the United States and China can be "mutually supportive and reinforcing," and urged the two sides to explore "a new approach to coexistence among major countries."
Who attended the evening?
Defense Minister Pete Hegseth was sitting at another table, looking serious. His wife sat next to him, while Jared Kushner and White House Chief of Staff Monica Crowley were nearby.
The White House invited dozens of American officials, along with conservative broadcasters, heads of technology companies and social media platforms, and executives from other companies.
Among those attending were members of Trump's cabinet, in addition to members of his family, including his children Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany.
Among the technology leaders attending the ceremony were: Tim Cook from Apple, Sam Altman from OpenAI, Sundar Pichai from Google, Jeff Bezos from Amazon, and Jensen Huang from Nvidia.
Cook and Huang sat at the same table as Trump and Xi Jinping. So does Elon Musk, who previously worked in the Trump administration to lead efforts to reduce the size of government.
The list of companies whose leaders attended also included: General Motors, Visa, Paramount Skydance, Exxon Mobil, and others.
Social media mogul Mark Zuckerberg was also in attendance, as well as American billionaire Jeff Yass, who owns a stake in the TikTok app.
“Everyone wanted to be here,” Trump said ahead of the event. “It can be said that the entire technology world, the entire banking world, and many others, are present here.”
It was noteworthy that Anthropic, one of the largest and most valuable artificial intelligence companies in the world, was absent.
The BBC has contacted the company to find out whether it has received an invitation or has chosen not to attend.
What was on the dining table?
The office of US First Lady Melania Trump, the event's organizer, said the dinner menu highlights "American ingredients with a slight Chinese touch."
Guests began their meal with a plate of yellow squash, wild mushrooms, and crispy pancetta (Italian bacon) slices, served on tables covered with red tablecloths, knowing that the color red symbolizes good luck in Chinese culture.
As for the main course, it included sea bass covered with a layer of sesame seeds, along with slow-cooked bok choy and grilled eggplant.
What is the schedule on Friday?
