Trump sticks to the script as he lauds ‘special relationship’ with China and invites Xi to White House in September

During his remarks, President Trump said it is “a great honor” to visit China, adding that he received a “magnificent welcome like no other.”

Sticking to his script, he then spoke of the historic relationship between both the U.S. and China, noting that Chinese workers helped create American railroads and that President Theodore Rooseve provided the funds to establish Xi’s alma mater in China.

Both the American and Chinese people, he said, have similar values: “We value hard work, courage and achievement, we love our families and our countries.”

He closed by proposing a toast to the “rich and enduring ties” between both nations.

President Xi Jinping just spoke at the podium during the state banquet.

“It is a great pleasure to host the state banquet in honor of President Trump during his visit to China. On the behalf of the Chinese government and people, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to President Trump and the U.S. delegation,” he said, according to a translator.

“This is a historic visit,” he continued. “The people of China and the U.S. are both great peoples…achieving the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand.”

Xi said that he Trump, through meetings and phone calls, have kept China-U.S. relations “generally stable.”

“Our two countries should be partners rather than rivals,” he added. “We must make it work.”

President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping have arrived at the state banquet in the Great Hall of the People.

We’re getting some images now from inside the Great Hall, where Donald Trump will soon arrive for a state banquet.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has his thumbs up and is pulling a face as he is served by a waitress while posing for a picture with Apple CEO Tim Cook and a Chinese official.

Cook departs, and as US and Chinese officials stand around chatting, the Tesla and SpaceX owner picks up his fork and begins tucking into his food and drink.

Also in the hall are secretary of state Marco Rubio, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, and several other officials and entrepeneurs who are part of the US delegation.

We’re around 20 minutes away from Donald Trump joining a state banquet in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

If proceedings so far are anything to go by – such as Trump’s ceremonial red-carpet welcome – it promises to be a grand affair in the majestic hall, which has already wowed US secretary of state Marco Rubio.

There has been plenty of talk on what the menu will include – let’s take a look at what the likely options are.

In November 2017, the last time Trump joined a state banquet in Beijing, the menu was varied.

It included hors d’Oeuvres, coconut-flavoured chicken soup, seafood chowder and kung pao chicken.

The Chinese chefs tactfully included stewed beef steak in tomato sauce on the menu – a nod to the US president’s love of well-done steak with a side of ketchup. Braised vegetables in premium broth and grouper fillets with hot chilli oil were also included on the menu.

The menu for the 2026 visit has not yet been unveiled – stay with us to find out what’s on the President’s platter.

The U.S. hopes to convince China to play a more active role in trying to persuade Iran to walk away from what it is doing in the Gulf, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said in an interview aired on Fox News on Wednesday.

Rubio made the comments in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

When asked about Trump’s meeting with Xi, he said it is in everyones interest to see stability in the world, according to China’s CCTV state broadcaster.

We’ve just heard from the White House, which has issued a statement following the bilateral meeting between Trump and Xi.

It says the meeting was “good” and that the leaders discussed deepening economic cooperation and increasing Chinese investment into US industries.

The pair also discussed the Iran war, the White House says.

“The two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy,” the statement reads.

“President Xi also made clear China’s opposition to the militarization of the Strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use, and he expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China’s dependence on the Strait in the future.”

The countries both agreed that Iran “can never have a nuclear weapon”.