Trump, Xi hold closed-door bilateral talks at White House with focus on security, tech, trade

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping began closed-door bilateral talks at the White House on Thursday, with security, trade and technology among the issues on the agenda.

The meeting followed a military welcome ceremony that included a flyover by a B-2 stealth bomber and fighter jets believed to be F-22s, while a military band played and US and Chinese flags were displayed in alternating order.

US first lady Melania Trump and her Chinese counterpart, Peng Liyuan, also joined the two leaders in the Oval Office.

Following their one-on-one meeting, Trump and Xi were joined by their respective teams in the White House Cabinet Room.

Ahead of their formal talks, Trump said the two countries "have been working to encourage a more balanced trading relationship, including the new market access for American farmers and ranchers."

He added that the talks would also address "pressing issues concerning security, technology, and superintelligence."

Xi, for his part, called for stronger communication between Beijing and Washington, saying the two sides could "seek common ground, and build mutual trust through candid, in-depth, and continued dialogue."

He also urged expanded government-to-government contacts in areas including foreign affairs, the economy and law enforcement.

Trump and the first lady are due to host Xi and his wife, Peng, for a state dinner later Thursday.

Melania Trump later took Peng on a tour of the National Museum of Asian Art while Trump and Xi held talks.

Trump’s meeting with Xi also comes as the US remains at war with Iran and the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues.

Xi arrived Wednesday for a three-day state visit to the US, his first in more than a decade.

He is the first Chinese leader to make two state visits to the US since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1979.

Then-US President Barack Obama hosted Xi for his first state visit in 2015.

Xi’s current visit comes after he hosted Trump for a state visit in May, when the two sides agreed on a “new vision of building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability.”