Xi hails 'important' US-China ties as Beijing rolls out red carpet for Trump at glitzy state banquet
The relationship between China and the US is the most important bilateral relationship in the world and we "must make it work and never mess it up," China's President Xi Jinping has said.
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Xi made the remarks in a toast at a state banquet he was hosting for visiting US President Donald Trump, adding that the "rejuvenation of China" and "Make America Great Again" can go hand in hand.
Trump was greeted with a gun salute and military parade outside Beijing's Great Hall of the People in a glitzy welcoming on Thursday.
The meeting at the country's Great Hall lasted two hours, double their intended duration.
Trump told the Chinese President that he wanted to open up China and rebalance the trade relationship, describing it as "an honour" to be meeting his Chinese counterpart on his two-day tour of the Asian powerhouse.
Speaking in the hall, he thanked Xi for a “magnificent welcome” and invited the Chinese leader to the US, with a visit scheduled for 24 September.
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"We look forward to it. And now I'd like to raise a glass and propose a toast to the rich and enduring ties between the American and Chinese people," Trump said.
The US leader and his delegation were joined by several American corporate giants including tech billionaire Elon Musk and outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Earlier, Trump told Xi he is “a great leader”.
“Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway," Trump admitted.
"There are those who say this may be the biggest summit ever," Trump said. "It's an honour to be with you. It's an honour to be your friend and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before," he added.
Xi opened the summit by telling Trump that a stable China–US relationship benefits the entire world. "When we cooperate, both sides benefit; when we confront each other, both sides suffer."
He also said preparatory talks by economic and trade teams in South Korea on Wednesday had reached an "overall balanced and positive outcome", according to a readout by China's state-run Xinhua news agency.
The latest round of negotiations aimed to maintain the trade truce struck last October and establish mechanisms to support future trade and investment, officials with knowledge of the matter said.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss competition over technology,Taiwan and the Iran war.