In pictures: Xi rolls out the red carpet for Trump's arrival

A state banquet is underway in Beijing. It kicked off with Xi saying China and the US should be partners, not rivals, and US President Donald Trump describing Chinese President Xi Jinping as a friend.

The event caps off the first day of the two-day summit between the leaders of the world's two largest economies.

Earlier, Xi told Trump that trade talks were making progress, but cautioned that disagreement over Taiwan could send relations down a dangerous path and even lead to conflict.

Xi's remarks on Taiwan, the democratically governed island claimed by Beijing, came in a closed-door meeting that ran more than two hours, China's foreign ministry said.

They represented a stark - if not unprecedented - warning during a pomp-filled occasion that otherwise appeared friendly and relaxed.

The US summary of the talks made no mention of Taiwan.

Instead, it focused on the leaders' shared desire to reopen the key waterway of the Strait of Hormuz, effectively closed due to the Iran war, and Xi's apparent interest in buying American oil to reduce China's dependence on Middle East supplies.

A giant screen at a shopping area shows news footage of Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting US President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China May 14, 2026. REUTERS

Security officers stand guard as a car with US national flag, in a motorcade carrying US President Donald Trump, passes by during his visit to China, in Beijing, China, May 14, 2026. REUTERS