Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a stern warning to the United States not to overstep on Taiwan as he hosted President Donald Trump in Beijing on Thursday for talks that also focused on trade and Iran.
Both leaders struck a notably deferential tone as Trump visited China for the first time since 2017, a highly anticipated trip that came as tensions between the two superpowers remain strained due to a number of issues ranging from tariffs to the race for dominance in the field of artificial intelligence.
Following an official welcome with military honours and initial talks, Xi showed the US president around Beijing's Temple of Heaven, followed by a state banquet of at the Great Hall of the People, where the Chinese leader told Trump that Beijing considers US-China relations to be "the most important bilateral relationship in the world."
The two countries should be partners rather than opponents, Xi said.
Trump said that the American and Chinese people had "much in common."
"We value hard work. We value courage and achievement. We love our families and we love our countries together," he said.
"We have the chance to draw these values to create a future of greater prosperity, cooperation, and happiness and peace for our children," Trump said, announcing that he had invited Xi to visit the White House on September 24.
Taiwan is key issue, Xi says
Earlier, however, Xi had struck a less conciliatory note, warning Trump against mishandling the Taiwan issue, saying it could lead to tensions or even conflict between the two countries, according to Chinese state media.
If the Taiwan affair were handled poorly, it could place US-China relations in a "very dangerous situation," Xi said during talks, state news agency Xinhua reported.
Taiwan has had a separate government since 1949 and has developed into a vibrant modern democracy. Beijing, however, considers the self-ruled island as its territory and has threatened to take it by force if it makes any formal moves towards independence.
Xi also said Taiwan was the most important issue determining relations between Beijing and Washington, and that handling it properly could help preserve stability between the two powers. The US plays a key role in the Taiwan issue, including through arms sales to the island despite strong objections from Beijing.
It was not immediately clear how Trump responded to Xi's remarks.
Following Xi's comments, Taiwan accused Beijing of being responsible for escalating tensions in the region.
Talks on trade, Iran
Talks between Xi and Trump also focused on trade after months of tensions between Washington and Beijing, with the US president having threatened China with steep tariffs during the past year.
The Chinese president said he was convinced that the common interests between the US and China were greater than their differences. He also raised the prospect that the two countries might be able to create a "new model for relations between great powers."
Trump and Xi last met in late October ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, where they agreed on a pause in an ongoing tariff dispute.
According to US journalists, the first meeting between Trump and Xi lasted around two hours. Chinese state media later reported that Xi met with senior US business leaders who had travelled to Beijing with Trump, including Apple chief executive Tim Cook and Tesla founder Elon Musk.
Also in attendance was Jensen Huang, the head of chipmaker Nvidia, whose semiconductors are considered crucial for the development of artificial intelligence.
During the meeting, Xi reportedly said that China's doors would open even wider and emphasized that China welcomes deeper cooperation with the US.
The war involving Iran also featured in discussions. Washington hopes China can help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Following the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, Tehran largely brought shipping to a standstill through threats and attacks. China is typically the largest buyer of Iranian oil.
According to the White House statement, both sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz needs to be kept open for energy deliveries.
Xi also rejected a militarization of the strait, as well as tolls imposed on transiting vessels as sought by Iran, according to the statement.
The Chinese leader reportedly also expressed interest in purchasing more US oil.
Trump is set to leave China on Friday, after holding further talks with Xi.
