In pictures: Trump hosted by Xi Jinping in Beijing on two-day summit

Lead

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up a two-day summit in Beijing, a visit that combined grand ceremonial pageantry with substantive talks on trade, Taiwan, and international conflicts. The leaders met at the Great Hall of the People, toured the historic Temple of Heaven, and hosted a state banquet, with Trump accompanied by a delegation of top U.S. tech executives.

Coverage comparison

The visit drew extensive coverage from international media, with each outlet focusing on different facets of the summit. The BBC reported that Trump was greeted with a gun salute, cheering children, and a tour of the 15th Century Temple of Heaven, highlighting the ceremonial welcome and the presence of tech bosses including Tesla's Elon Musk and Nvidia's Jensen Huang. The BBC also noted that Trump and Xi held bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People, with Xi remarking that "the whole world is watching our meeting."

Deutsche Welle provided more analytical coverage, focusing on the political implications of the talks. They reported that Xi commented on the Taiwan issue and that Trump requested China's help in resolving the war in Iran. The outlet also provided details on trade negotiations, noting that the U.S. and China restarted a trade war last year after Trump singled out China during his global tariff blitz.

France 24's coverage was brief and factual, noting that the two leaders met and that Xi greeted Trump at the Temple of Heaven.

South China Morning Post offered a summary and analytical take, listing takeaways from the talks and noting the presence of Zhou Qunfei, a Chinese businesswoman seated between Tim Cook and Elon Musk at the state banquet.

Key claims

• Trump visited Beijing for a two-day summit with Xi Jinping, arriving on Air Force One on Wednesday evening and greeted by youths waving American and Chinese flags. (BBC)
• The U.S. leader was welcomed with a gun salute and a tour of the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage site where Chinese emperors once prayed for good harvests. (BBC, DW)
• Trump was joined by several top U.S. business leaders, including Tesla's Elon Musk, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, Apple's Tim Cook, and BlackRock's Larry Fink. (BBC, SCMP)
• Trump and Xi held bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People, lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes according to a White House pool report. (BBC, DW)
• Xi told Trump that "the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations" and that if mishandled, "the two nations could collide or even come into conflict," as reported by Chinese state media, cited by DW.
• Trump requested China's help in resolving the war in Iran, according to DW.
• The U.S. and China restarted a trade war last year after Trump's global tariff blitz targeted China; trade talks were held in Seoul with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Vice Premier He Lifeng. (DW)
• Zhou Qunfei, a Chinese businesswoman, was seated between Tim Cook and Elon Musk at the state banquet. (SCMP)

Perspectives

• China (Xi Jinping): Emphasized the importance of the Taiwan issue, warning of potential conflict if mishandled, and stressed the global significance of the meeting.
• United States (Donald Trump): Sought China's cooperation on Iran and highlighted the personal rapport between the leaders, while also addressing trade concerns.