US President Donald Trump used the White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday (Sep 24) to praise their relationship, saying the two had “never gotten along better” and thanking Xi for making the long journey from China to Washington.The dinner came during Xi's first state visit to the United States in more than a decade, with the leaders trying to manage tensions over trade, Taiwan, artificial intelligence and the war in Iran. Trump had earlier in the day described the talks as a major meeting and said the two sides had made “tremendous strides”.During the dinner speech, Trump largely stuck to his prepared remarks during the dinner, which celebrated US-China ties, but made an unscripted detour to one of his signature projects at the White House: the construction of a new ballroom.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/making-history-xi-jinping-praises-trump-as-us-china-leaders-dine-at-white-house-1790297342133">'Making history': Xi praises Trump as US-China leaders dine at White House</a><h2>Trump praises Xi, US-China ties</h2>The president's formal remarks focused mainly on the long history of relations between the United States and China and his assessment of the current relationship with Xi. Thanking the Chinese leader for travelling to the US, Trump said: “We’ve never gotten along better.”Referring to the broader US-China relationship, Trump acknowledged the political and economic differences between Washington and Beijing while highlighting areas where the two countries have common interests. “President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure,” Trump said.However, he repeatedly emphasised his personal relationship with Xi in the run-up to the visit, describing it as a key part of managing disagreements between the two governments.&nbsp;<h2>Xi calls for peaceful coexistence</h2>Xi struck a more measured tone during his own remarks. He called on China and the United States to maintain communication, manage their differences and “coexist in peace”.“China and the United States must act as responsible major countries,” Xi said, according to reports of his remarks. He also said the two countries could gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spy-vs-spy-as-xi-meets-trump-a-12-year-history-of-us-china-espionage-accusations-wion-decodes-1790071582437">SPY VS SPY: As Xi meets Trump, a 12-year history of US-China espionage accusations | WION Decodes</a><h2>Trump's ballroom detour</h2>Turning to Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, Trump said they could be the first guests to enter the ballroom, even though the project remains under construction and is still about a year from completion. “As a special treat, you could be the first people to enter our ballroom,” Trump said.He then joked about the unfinished site, telling guests that anyone interested could take a look after the evening’s entertainment. “Anybody who wants to walk into a construction site that’s nice and clean and sparkling, it’s our honour to have you do so,” Trump said.Xi's state visit is due to conclude on Friday, when he and Peng are scheduled to have tea with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump before visiting the National Archives. &nbsp;

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping put personal rapport at the centre of a lavish White House state dinner, with Trump saying they had “never gotten along better”. He also made a notable detour to one of his signature projects at the White House: the construction of a new ballroom.

US President Donald Trump used the White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday (Sep 24) to praise their relationship, saying the two had “never gotten along better” and thanking Xi for making the long journey from China to Washington. The dinner came during Xi's first state visit to the United States in more than a decade, with the leaders trying to manage tensions over trade, Taiwan, artificial intelligence and the war in Iran. Trump had earlier in the day described the talks as a major meeting and said the two sides had made “tremendous strides”. During the dinner speech, Trump largely stuck to his prepared remarks during the dinner, which celebrated US-China ties, but made an unscripted detour to one of his signature projects at the White House: the construction of a new ballroom. Also read | 'Making history': Xi praises Trump as US-China leaders dine at White House Trump praises Xi, US-China ties The president's formal remarks focused mainly on the long history of relations between the United States and China and his assessment of the current relationship with Xi. Thanking the Chinese leader for travelling to the US, Trump said: “We’ve never gotten along better.” Referring to the broader US-China relationship, Trump acknowledged the political and economic differences between Washington and Beijing while highlighting areas where the two countries have common interests. “President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure,” Trump said. However, he repeatedly emphasised his personal relationship with Xi in the run-up to the visit, describing it as a key part of managing disagreements between the two governments. Xi calls for peaceful coexistence Xi struck a more measured tone during his own remarks. He called on China and the United States to maintain communication, manage their differences and “coexist in peace”. “China and the United States must act as responsible major countries,” Xi said, according to reports of his remarks. He also said the two countries could gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Also read | SPY VS SPY: As Xi meets Trump, a 12-year history of US-China espionage accusations | WION Decodes Trump's ballroom detour Turning to Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, Trump said they could be the first guests to enter the ballroom, even though the project remains under construction and is still about a year from completion. “As a special treat, you could be the first people to enter our ballroom,” Trump said. He then joked about the unfinished site, telling guests that anyone interested could take a look after the evening’s entertainment. “Anybody who wants to walk into a construction site that’s nice and clean and sparkling, it’s our honour to have you do so,” Trump said. Xi's state visit is due to conclude on Friday, when he and Peng are scheduled to have tea with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump before visiting the National Archives.

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping put personal rapport at the centre of a lavish White House state dinner, with Trump saying they had “never gotten along better”. He also made a notable detour to one of his signature projects at the White House: the construction of a new ballroom.

‘We’ve never gotten along better’: Trump praises Xi, jokes about White House ballroom at high-stakes state dinner

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan for a lavish state dinner in the East Room of the White House on Thursday (Sep 24). According to the Office of the First Lady, the preparations for the dinner were led by the First Lady. The statement added that the black-tie gathering will be attended by official delegations, business leaders and government officials.The state dinner comes as Trump hosts Xi in Washington for bilateral talks, during which the two leaders are expected to discuss trade, security, AI, war in the Middle East and Taiwan. Welcoming Xi, Trump said that the US and China have a relationship built on “mutual respect” and the two nations “forged a truly great friendship”. Meanwhile, the Chinese president called for deeper communication and cooperation with the United States, warning that growing rivalry between the two powers must not slide into military confrontation.<h2>What’s on the state dinner menu?</h2>According to the official statement, the state dinner’s menu showcases “American ingredients with subtle Chinese influence, bringing the culinary traditions of both nations together.” The dinner will begin with a toast of Schramsberg “Blanc De Noir,” which is a reference to the “Toast to Peace” shared by President Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing in 1972.In the first course, yellow squash velouté will be served. The dish contains a blend of earthy flavours of wild mushrooms sautéed with fresh herbs. It also features crispy pancetta for a savoury and smoky contrast, along with a drizzle of scallion oil.The guests will be served sesame crusted sea bass in the second course. It will be served with crisp baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant and sauce verte of fresh herbs.The dinner will conclude with vanilla crémeux with sour cherry confit and walnut frangipane. The dessert will also include ice cream prepared with honey harvested at the White House. The First Lady unveiled a new beehive on the property’s grounds in April.<h2>Performances and décor</h2>During the formal dinner, Christopher Macchio will deliver several performances. Macchio is a classically trained tenor who performed at the 2025 Presidential Inauguration. There will also be performances by military musicians from the United States Marines Corps and the United States Army during the evening.The White House evening décor blends Chinese and American traditions, with red blossoms, rich red linens, dahlias, ranunculus, and White House collection vermeil adorning the tables.&nbsp;

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will host Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan at a lavish White House state dinner, featuring performances and décor blending Chinese and American traditions. Here’s all you need to know:

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan for a lavish state dinner in the East Room of the White House on Thursday (Sep 24). According to the Office of the First Lady, the preparations for the dinner were led by the First Lady. The statement added that the black-tie gathering will be attended by official delegations, business leaders and government officials. The state dinner comes as Trump hosts Xi in Washington for bilateral talks, during which the two leaders are expected to discuss trade, security, AI, war in the Middle East and Taiwan. Welcoming Xi, Trump said that the US and China have a relationship built on “mutual respect” and the two nations “forged a truly great friendship”. Meanwhile, the Chinese president called for deeper communication and cooperation with the United States, warning that growing rivalry between the two powers must not slide into military confrontation. What’s on the state dinner menu? According to the official statement, the state dinner’s menu showcases “American ingredients with subtle Chinese influence, bringing the culinary traditions of both nations together.” The dinner will begin with a toast of Schramsberg “Blanc De Noir,” which is a reference to the “Toast to Peace” shared by President Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing in 1972. In the first course, yellow squash velouté will be served. The dish contains a blend of earthy flavours of wild mushrooms sautéed with fresh herbs. It also features crispy pancetta for a savoury and smoky contrast, along with a drizzle of scallion oil. The guests will be served sesame crusted sea bass in the second course. It will be served with crisp baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant and sauce verte of fresh herbs. The dinner will conclude with vanilla crémeux with sour cherry confit and walnut frangipane. The dessert will also include ice cream prepared with honey harvested at the White House. The First Lady unveiled a new beehive on the property’s grounds in April. Performances and décor During the formal dinner, Christopher Macchio will deliver several performances. Macchio is a classically trained tenor who performed at the 2025 Presidential Inauguration. There will also be performances by military musicians from the United States Marines Corps and the United States Army during the evening. The White House evening décor blends Chinese and American traditions, with red blossoms, rich red linens, dahlias, ranunculus, and White House collection vermeil adorning the tables.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will host Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan at a lavish White House state dinner, featuring performances and décor blending Chinese and American traditions. Here’s all you need to know:

What’s on the menu? Inside Trump’s lavish White House state dinner for Xi

Whether it is trade, artificial intelligence, or global security, the world's two superpowers have been locked in a turf war.&nbsp;At a time when the world is besieged by conflicts, all eyes are on Chinese President Xi Jinping as he lands in US in a few hours from now for a crucial state visit.&nbsp;In an unprecedented gesture, US President Donald Trump will personally welcome Xi and his wife at the Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.&nbsp;This will be followed by an elaborate welcome ceremony on Thursday, which will feature 479 US military personnel.&nbsp;However, Taiwan remains a sticking point in the US-China bilateral ties.&nbsp;Just ahead of the Trump-Xi summit, Taiwan conducted live-fire exercises featuring a domestically developed eight-wheeled armoured vehicle.&nbsp;According to Taiwan's military, this vehicle combines high mobility and firepower, allowing ground forces to conduct rapid strikes and respond quickly across terrains.&nbsp;It also displayed military equipment used to strengthen the island's defence capabilities, such as HIMARS rocket launchers and air defence systems.&nbsp;This is not all.&nbsp;Last week, combat exercises, involving all three branches of Taiwan's armed forces featuring multiple type of attack drones were held for the first time.&nbsp;Amid this, Beijing issued a firm warning to Washington.&nbsp;The Chinese Envoy to US made it clear that Taiwan and human rights are red lines for China that cannot be crossed.&nbsp;He stressed that America should stop fabricating pretexts such as national security, economic imbalances and forced labour to try and constrain China.&nbsp;The diplomat also added that his country's political model, human rights record and development rights cannot be challenged.&nbsp;Now, tensions increased after US announced weapon sales worth over $11 billion dollars to Taiwan in December last year.&nbsp;However, US is yet to go ahead with this deal, owing to China's consistent objections.&nbsp;In February, Xi warned Trump over the Taiwan arms deal on a phone call, telling him to be "prudent".&nbsp;In May, when Trump went to China, Beijing said, if Taiwan is handled improperly, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts. This was the exact official wording by the Chinese govt.&nbsp;Now, it's September, it is Xi's turn to visit U.S. - and he is likely to again press Trump to stop deliveries of arms already ordered by Taiwan as well as future arms sales to Taipei.&nbsp;Taiwan though remains optimistic about the arms deal.&nbsp;Xi's America visit also holds significance from the economic perspective with US trade deficit with China standing at more than 91 billion US Dollars.&nbsp;After initially threatening tariffs, Trump announced a trade and economic deal with China in November 2025.&nbsp;According to US, China promised to eliminate export controls on rare earth elements and other critical minerals, and end its retaliation against US semiconductor manufacturers and resume purchase of soybeans.&nbsp;However, uncertainty remains over whether this agreement will be extended over concerns that China is still squeezing flows of critical minerals to US.&nbsp;This is vital for US as they are essential components in production of weapons which have been depleted by the Iran war.&nbsp;According to Chinese customs data, shipments of rare earth magnets to US dropped by 21% in August as compared to the month before.&nbsp;It is worth noting that after holding talks with Xi in Beijing in May, US had announced that China has agreed to address its concerns over rare earths.&nbsp;According to America, China also agreed to purchase 200 American-made Boeing aircraft, and US agricultural products worth 17 billion US Dollars.&nbsp;The recent passage of the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act has also cast a shadow over the trade talks, as it allows Trump to potentially levy tariffs of up to 100% on China for being the top importer of Russian crude oil.&nbsp;AI remains another domain of contention between both sides.&nbsp;While industry leaders have been pushing for a coordinated slowdown of AI development, Trump claimed that China is the only one happy about this.&nbsp;He also announced the formation of an AI Force, and boasted that America is leading China in this domain and would continue to do so...&nbsp;At the same time, America has proposed setting up a US-China AI dialogue.&nbsp;On his part, Xi has called for a consensus-based global AI governance framework.&nbsp;At this juncture though, the Iran war is likely to be one of the key agenda for the talks.&nbsp;Being Iran's largest trading partner, which purchases roughly 90% of its crude oil, China has high stakes in reopening Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;While Trump has increased economic pressure on Iran, China has consistently opposed unilateral sanctions, and urged both sides to return to the negotiating table.&nbsp;With Iran and US at loggerheads, it remains to be seen whether China's intervention can bring an end to this war.&nbsp;With China's growing assertiveness and Trump rolling out the red carpet to Xi, the upcoming two days will be crucial in determining whether the two superpowers can find a middle ground on bilateral issues, as well as matters of global significance...

In an unprecedented gesture, US President Donald Trump will personally welcome Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife at the Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. This will be followed by an elaborate welcome ceremony on Thursday, which will feature 479 US military personnel.

Whether it is trade, artificial intelligence, or global security, the world's two superpowers have been locked in a turf war. At a time when the world is besieged by conflicts, all eyes are on Chinese President Xi Jinping as he lands in US in a few hours from now for a crucial state visit. In an unprecedented gesture, US President Donald Trump will personally welcome Xi and his wife at the Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. This will be followed by an elaborate welcome ceremony on Thursday, which will feature 479 US military personnel. However, Taiwan remains a sticking point in the US-China bilateral ties. Just ahead of the Trump-Xi summit, Taiwan conducted live-fire exercises featuring a domestically developed eight-wheeled armoured vehicle. According to Taiwan's military, this vehicle combines high mobility and firepower, allowing ground forces to conduct rapid strikes and respond quickly across terrains. It also displayed military equipment used to strengthen the island's defence capabilities, such as HIMARS rocket launchers and air defence systems. This is not all. Last week, combat exercises, involving all three branches of Taiwan's armed forces featuring multiple type of attack drones were held for the first time. Amid this, Beijing issued a firm warning to Washington. The Chinese Envoy to US made it clear that Taiwan and human rights are red lines for China that cannot be crossed. He stressed that America should stop fabricating pretexts such as national security, economic imbalances and forced labour to try and constrain China. The diplomat also added that his country's political model, human rights record and development rights cannot be challenged. Now, tensions increased after US announced weapon sales worth over $11 billion dollars to Taiwan in December last year. However, US is yet to go ahead with this deal, owing to China's consistent objections. In February, Xi warned Trump over the Taiwan arms deal on a phone call, telling him to be "prudent". In May, when Trump went to China, Beijing said, if Taiwan is handled improperly, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts. This was the exact official wording by the Chinese govt. Now, it's September, it is Xi's turn to visit U.S. - and he is likely to again press Trump to stop deliveries of arms already ordered by Taiwan as well as future arms sales to Taipei. Taiwan though remains optimistic about the arms deal. Xi's America visit also holds significance from the economic perspective with US trade deficit with China standing at more than 91 billion US Dollars. After initially threatening tariffs, Trump announced a trade and economic deal with China in November 2025. According to US, China promised to eliminate export controls on rare earth elements and other critical minerals, and end its retaliation against US semiconductor manufacturers and resume purchase of soybeans. However, uncertainty remains over whether this agreement will be extended over concerns that China is still squeezing flows of critical minerals to US. This is vital for US as they are essential components in production of weapons which have been depleted by the Iran war. According to Chinese customs data, shipments of rare earth magnets to US dropped by 21% in August as compared to the month before. It is worth noting that after holding talks with Xi in Beijing in May, US had announced that China has agreed to address its concerns over rare earths. According to America, China also agreed to purchase 200 American-made Boeing aircraft, and US agricultural products worth 17 billion US Dollars. The recent passage of the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act has also cast a shadow over the trade talks, as it allows Trump to potentially levy tariffs of up to 100% on China for being the top importer of Russian crude oil. AI remains another domain of contention between both sides. While industry leaders have been pushing for a coordinated slowdown of AI development, Trump claimed that China is the only one happy about this. He also announced the formation of an AI Force, and boasted that America is leading China in this domain and would continue to do so... At the same time, America has proposed setting up a US-China AI dialogue. On his part, Xi has called for a consensus-based global AI governance framework. At this juncture though, the Iran war is likely to be one of the key agenda for the talks. Being Iran's largest trading partner, which purchases roughly 90% of its crude oil, China has high stakes in reopening Strait of Hormuz. While Trump has increased economic pressure on Iran, China has consistently opposed unilateral sanctions, and urged both sides to return to the negotiating table. With Iran and US at loggerheads, it remains to be seen whether China's intervention can bring an end to this war. With China's growing assertiveness and Trump rolling out the red carpet to Xi, the upcoming two days will be crucial in determining whether the two superpowers can find a middle ground on bilateral issues, as well as matters of global significance...

In an unprecedented gesture, US President Donald Trump will personally welcome Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife at the Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. This will be followed by an elaborate welcome ceremony on Thursday, which will feature 479 US military personnel.

Xi cautions Trump on arms deal, Taiwan flaunts new weapons | Gravitas

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled for a two-day visit to the US from September 23 to 25 where the primary talks with President Donald Trump will be held at the White House on Thursday (September 24). Xi will arrive in the US on Wednesday at Joint Base Andrews, where President Trump will personally welcome him.&nbsp;Along with both the leaders, America’s most prominent technology executives, business leaders and other officials will also join for a high-profile state dinner on September 24. The gathering is set to bring the architects of modern computing and artificial intelligence (AI) directly into the room with the leaders of the world's two largest economies. The scheduled meeting comes amid intense friction over global technology supremacy, microchips and AI safety.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/islamabad-hospitals-told-to-prep-for-mass-casualty-incident-ahead-of-pti-protest-1790081556353">Islamabad hospitals told to prep for 'mass casualty incident' ahead of PTI protest</a><h3>Full guest list of tech CEOs, business leaders and officials</h3>For a White House state dinner on September 24, Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman, and several other prominent technology executives have been invited. This places some of the biggest names in AI, semiconductors and consumer technology in the room. On September 24, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to a dinner held in the East Room of the White House. Among those expected to attend, according to US officials, are several major tech figures: Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Google parent Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Apple's Tim Cook, Tesla's Elon Musk, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, and Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell. Several executives from the financial sector are also anticipated to be present. Both Trump and Xi are set to deliver remarks at the start of the evening. The involvement of these tech leaders comes at a time when artificial intelligence is expected to be a key discussion point between the two leaders. US officials also indicated that trade issues and the export of Chinese rare-earth minerals will be part of the broader agenda. Collectively, the companies in attendance represent a wide swath of the tech industry, from AI and semiconductors to cloud services, mobile devices, electric vehicles and online retail, all sectors currently caught up in the trade and technology friction between the US and China.

America’s most prominent technology executives, business leaders and other officials will also join for a high-profile state dinner on September 24. Several executives from the financial sector are also anticipated to be present.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled for a two-day visit to the US from September 23 to 25 where the primary talks with President Donald Trump will be held at the White House on Thursday (September 24). Xi will arrive in the US on Wednesday at Joint Base Andrews, where President Trump will personally welcome him. Along with both the leaders, America’s most prominent technology executives, business leaders and other officials will also join for a high-profile state dinner on September 24. The gathering is set to bring the architects of modern computing and artificial intelligence (AI) directly into the room with the leaders of the world's two largest economies. The scheduled meeting comes amid intense friction over global technology supremacy, microchips and AI safety. Also read: Islamabad hospitals told to prep for 'mass casualty incident' ahead of PTI protest Full guest list of tech CEOs, business leaders and officials For a White House state dinner on September 24, Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman, and several other prominent technology executives have been invited. This places some of the biggest names in AI, semiconductors and consumer technology in the room. On September 24, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to a dinner held in the East Room of the White House. Among those expected to attend, according to US officials, are several major tech figures: Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Google parent Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Apple's Tim Cook, Tesla's Elon Musk, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, and Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell. Several executives from the financial sector are also anticipated to be present. Both Trump and Xi are set to deliver remarks at the start of the evening. The involvement of these tech leaders comes at a time when artificial intelligence is expected to be a key discussion point between the two leaders. US officials also indicated that trade issues and the export of Chinese rare-earth minerals will be part of the broader agenda. Collectively, the companies in attendance represent a wide swath of the tech industry, from AI and semiconductors to cloud services, mobile devices, electric vehicles and online retail, all sectors currently caught up in the trade and technology friction between the US and China.

America’s most prominent technology executives, business leaders and other officials will also join for a high-profile state dinner on September 24. Several executives from the financial sector are also anticipated to be present.