Trump in China: President Xi warns Taiwan is key to US-China relations

Following President Donald Trump’s arrival in Beijing the previous night, his two-day summit with China’s President Xi Jinping is set to begin Thursday morning with a welcoming ceremony for the U.S. president at the Great Hall of the People. 

The massive hall, which sits on the western side of Tiananmen Square, was built in 1959 to mark the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and serves as the location where Chinese officials often greet foreign dignitaries. At approximately 171,800 square meters, or around 42.5 acres, the hall covers an area larger than the Forbidden Palace.

Trump was greeted with great fanfare Wednesday night, as well. In addition to the people on hand to greet him, the presidential motorcade rolled past a series of American and Chinese flags as "Beijing Welcome," written in Chinese, lit up nearby skyscrapers.

Trump and Xi’s first meeting happened at 10 a.m. China Standard Time, which is 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Afterwards, the two world leaders headed into private bilateral talks.

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Later in the day, Trump is scheduled to visit the Temple of Heaven, a 15th-century religious building symbolizing the relationship between heaven and earth, before Xi hosts his counterpart at a state dinner Thursday night.

The second day of the meeting will include a working tea and lunch between the two.

Here is the latest:

Taiwan response to Chinese warning

6:32 a.m. ET: Taiwan's Ministry of Affairs said "China is currently the only risk to regional peace and stability."

"Even during the meeting between the leaders of the United States and China, the People’s Liberation Army continued to send military aircraft and ships to harass and threaten Taiwan in the region," the ministry said.

President Trump attend banquet

6:01 a.m. ET: President Trump attended a banquet in his honor at the Great Hall of the People. 

Key members of Trump's Cabinet; Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secrtary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent were all present as well. 

China opposes Iran's tolls

3:45 a.m. ET: Chinese President Xi and President Trump discussed Iran and agreed that the Strait of Hormuz needs to be reopened. 

A readout from their meeting on Thursday read that Xi opposed any tolls on ships crossing the strait. He also said China would be interested in buying more U.S. oil to reduce future Chinese dependence on Gulf oil.  

Comments on executives trending on China social media

3:20 a.m. ET: Comments President Trump made about the business executives he chose to accompany him on the trip were the second highest trending topic on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform. 

"I didn’t want the second or the third in the company. I wanted only the top, and they’re here today to pay respects to you and to China," Trump told Xi when the leaders met Thursday.

Post included jokes about how the executives were happy to be there, with pictures of them smiling and giving a thumbs up. 

Trump, Xi talk Middle East, Ukraine and Korea

2:45 a.m. ET: President Trump and President Xi spoke on the situation in the Middle East, the Ukraine crisis and the Korean Peninsula. 

The two leaders agreed to support each other this year. They plan to meet in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and the G20 Summit in Florida, according to Xinhua.

Trump tours Temple of Heaven

2:15 a.m. ET: President Trump took a tour of the 15th century temple. 

China gives US a warning

1:10 a.m. ET: Taiwan became a focal point between the relations between the U.S. and China. A readout from the bilateral talks published by Xinhua News Agency read that "clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy," in regard to how Taiwan is handled. 

Xi told Trump that if Taiwan is handled well, their relationship will "enjoy overall stability," according to the report. 

Xi: US and China should be ‘partners rather than rivals’

12:20 a.m. ET: Just before the bilateral talks between the two leaders, Chinese President Xi commented on the relationship with the two nations. 

Xi said he wanted this year to be a "landmark year" for the two countries. He said the U.S. and China should be "partners rather than rivals."

"I always believed that the common interests between China and the U.S. outweigh their differences," Xi said. "Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both."

Xi congratulates US on upcoming anniversary

12:01 a.m ET: Chinese President Xi spoke briefly about the upcoming 250th anniversary of independence in America. 

"This year marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. I extend my congratulations to you and to the American people," Xi said. "I firmly believe the common interests between China and the United States are bigger than our differences."

World at a crossroads, Xi says

11:25 p.m. ET - Xi used his opening remarks to talk about how important the summit is for their respective nations as they see whether the two world powers can work together to meet the challenges ahead.

"Can we, in the interest of the well-being of our two peoples and the future of humanity, build a brighter future together for our bilateral relations?" Xi said.

China's president delved into ancient Greek history during his comments by asking if the countries would be able to avoid the "Thucydides Trap," a term that references the idea that when a rising power threatens to displace an established power, it can often end in war.

The phrase traces back to Thucydides' account of the destructive Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. In it, he said, "It was the rise of Athens, and the fear that rise engendered in Sparta, that made war inevitable."

Trump opens summit with praise for Xi

11:01 p.m. ET - Immediately after the opening ceremony, Trump and Xi went inside the hall where they were joined by members of their administrations to begin the summit. 

While most of the session took place behind closed doors, cameras were allowed inside to hear opening remarks from Xi and Trump. The U.S. president opened with praise for his welcome and indicated he wanted to do business with China.

"You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true," Trump said.

In his comments, Trump did not focus much on many of the tensions between the two countries.

Trump, Xi shake hands to begin summit

10:43 p.m. ET - Presidents Trump and Xi shook hands Thursday morning to kick off the two-day summit.

After a brief greeting, the pair walked over to greet the dignitaries, who included members of the Trump administration as well as CEOs of some of the world’s largest companies, who had lined up for the ceremony.

After the two nations’ respective national anthems played, Trump and Xi walked over to a red dais where they stood side-by-side to inspect the honor guard. They also paused for a moment in front of a group of children who had gathered for the ceremony and were waving flowers.

Rubio on Trump's message to China on Iran

9:55 p.m. ET - The Trump administration will make an economic argument to Chinese officials for why they should take a "more active role" on Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained.

Rubio said the U.S. would highlight how "economies are melting down because of this crisis" and point out that would mean people are "buying less Chinese product."

"So it’s in their interest to resolve this," Rubio said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity. "We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they’re doing now and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf."

Prior to departing for China, however, Trump offered a different perspective on the differences between the two countries regarding the Iran war.

"We have a lot of things to discuss," Trump said. "I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control."

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