An elaborate state dinner at the White House marked the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with declarations of future collaboration but no clear resolution on key disputes between their nations. The event, which took place late on Thursday, hosted an array of influential figures, including tech industry leaders and billionaires.
State Dinner Speeches Highlight Diplomatic Intentions
During the dinner, President Xi underscored the importance of keeping artificial intelligence under “human control” and called for both countries to act as “responsible major countries.” Meanwhile, President Trump expressed hopes for “harmony, peace and success” between the US and China, despite existing tensions over issues such as Taiwan and trade.
Xi emphasized their discussions as a “historic juncture” in US-China relations, suggesting that the ambitions of both leaders could “surely be mutually reinforcing.” He remarked on the significant conversations and mutual understandings achieved during his meeting with Trump, though little was disclosed regarding specific agreements on contentious topics.
Contentious Issues Remain Unresolved
Taiwan remains a point of contention, with President Xi urging President Trump to take a “correct position” on the self-governing island which China claims as its own. Trump has currently paused approval of a $14 billion arms package to Taiwan, which followed Xi’s warning in May that mishandling the Taiwan situation could lead to conflict.
The state dinner coincided with demonstrations outside the White House, resulting in some arrests. Inside, however, Trump and Xi continued to engage in diplomatic pleasantries, with Trump showcasing a bald eagle sculpture to Xi, symbolising the “free and soaring spirit of America”.
Gathering of Political and Business Leaders
Numerous influential figures attended the dinner, including Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and high-profile CEOs like Apple’s Tim Cook, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, and Elon Musk. Remarkably absent was Anthropic, a leading AI firm, though the reason for the absence was not clarified.
In terms of dining, the menu was curated to incorporate “American ingredients with subtle Chinese influence” and included dishes such as sesame-crusted sea bass and a vanilla crémeux dessert. The wine, Schramsberg Blanc De Noir, was a nod to President Nixon’s famous “Toast to Peace” with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in 1972.
Continuing Diplomatic Engagements
The following day, Trump and Xi continued their diplomatic engagements, beginning with tea in the White House’s Red Room and followed by a tour of the US National Archives. The Archives houses critical historical documents such as the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. President Xi and his wife were scheduled to leave Washington later that day, with additional meetings between the two leaders planned at upcoming international summits.
Reporting based on coverage first published by bbc.co.uk.