US President Donald Trump began his trip to Beijing on Thursday by telling Xi Jinping “it’s an honour to be your friend,” even as his Chinese counterpart offered a cautionary warning about avoiding a possible clash between the two nations.
The stark contrast in tone underscored just how far apart the leaders remain on thorny issues, including the war in Iran, trade disputes and Washington’s relationship with Taiwan — and suggested their meetings are likely to be longer on pageantry and symbolism than major breakthroughs.
In remarks before their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, which moved behind closed doors, Mr Trump was full of platitudes, telling Mr Xi: “You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true.”
“It’s an honour to be with you. It’s an honour to be your friend,” he said before promising that “the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before”.
Mr Xi was darker, expressing hope that the US and China can avoid conflict while saying that history and the world were asking “whether the two countries can transcend the Thucydides Trap and forge a new model for relations between major powers”.
China’s leader used a term popular in foreign policy studies, referring to the idea that when a rising power threatens to displace an established power, the result is often war.
“Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both,” Mr Xi said. “The two countries should be partners rather than rivals, achieve success together and pursue common prosperity, and chart a correct path for major-country relations in the new era.”
The remarks followed a sweeping greeting for Mr Trump outside the Great Hall of the People, an imposing building on Tiananmen Square which houses China’s legislature.
Cannons boomed a welcome salute and a band played PrimeTimes News-Spangled Banner and China’s national anthem.
Later, the US president is set to visit the Temple of Heaven, a religious complex dating to the 15th century that symbolises the relationship between heaven and earth. Mr Trump and Mr Xi will also attend a state banquet.
The White House has insisted that Mr Trump would not be making the trip without an eye toward securing results before he leaves — suggesting there could be announcements coming on trade, including a Chinese commitment to buy US soybeans, beef and aircraft.
Trump administration officials also want to work toward establishing a Board of Trade with China to address commercial differences between the countries.
But neither side has yet to offer concrete details on what might come of the three-day visit, at a time when Beijing’s close economic ties to Iran could complicate matters.
Looming large is the status of Taiwan, given that China is displeased with US plans to sell weapons to the self-governing island that the Chinese government claims as part of its territory.
The Trump administration has approved an 11 billion dollar (£8.1 billion) weapons package for Taiwan, but has yet to begin fulfilling it.
Mr Trump has also demonstrated greater ambivalence toward Taiwan — an approach that is raising questions about whether he might be open to dialling back support for the island democracy.
Taiwan is the world’s leading chipmaker, producing components essential to the development of artificial intelligence. Mr Trump has sought to bolster trade deals with Taiwan that can stimulate chip production in the US.
He personally called Nvidia’s Jensen Huang to invite him to hop on Air Force One during a refuelling stop in Alaska on the way to Beijing.
He is one of a large group of chief executives from the tech, defence, finance and agriculture sectors who are part of the delegation.
The US and China reached a trade truce last year that calmed each side’s threats to impose steep tariffs on the other.
The White House says there have been ongoing discussions and mutual interest in extending the agreement, although it is unclear whether any such announcement could come during Mr Trump’s visit.