By Amy Hawkins
Publication Date: 2026-05-14 02:51:00
US President Donald Trump has met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a momentous summit where negotiations on global conflicts, international trade and the future of artificial intelligence will take place in just over 24 hours.
Trump arrived Thursday morning at the Great Hall of the People, an imposing Mao-era building bordering the western edge of Tiananmen Square, for an opening ceremony followed by an hour of face-to-face talks with Xi.
Rows of uniformed officials flanked the red carpet laid out in front of the Great Hall of the People as Xi and Trump walked side by side to a lectern to listen to a welcome address before being cheered on by rows of elementary school children waving American and Chinese flags. The children received a double “thumbs up” from Trump and a wave from Xi.
The ceremony ended with a carefully choreographed performance by the Chinese military brass band before Trump and Xi climbed the stairs into China’s national legislature for their first round…
