Images: Trump Holds Talks with Xi in Beijing Amid Escalating Trade Disputes and Iran Tensions

Chinese leader Xi Jinping extended a warm welcome to US President Donald Trump with a handshake in Beijing on Thursday, marking the beginning of a high-stakes summit to tackle pressing issues such as Iran, trade, and Taiwan.

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The two leaders met at the grand Great Hall of the People, where Xi greeted Trump at 10:00 am, accompanied by a grand reception that masked the deep-seated tensions between the world's two biggest economies.

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Trump was joined by several US officials, including Pentagon representative Peter Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a long-time critic of Beijing, as Xi shook hands with the American delegation.

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A Chinese military band performed The Star-Spangled Banner and the Chinese national anthem, while cannons fired, as Trump and Xi stood together, surrounded by the pomp and ceremony of the occasion.

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Jubilant schoolchildren, dressed in brightly coloured outfits, waved US and Chinese flags and chanted "welcome, welcome" as the two leaders walked past them in the square, adding a touch of warmth to the proceedings.

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The two leaders will also participate in a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in the evening, and Trump is scheduled to visit the historic Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where China's emperors once prayed for a bountiful harvest.

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Trump arrived in Beijing on Air Force One late on Wednesday, accompanied by top CEOs, including Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Tesla's Elon Musk, who embody the business deals that Trump hopes to secure during his visit.

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This trip marks Trump's first visit to Beijing in nearly a decade, following his previous visit in 2017, which was accompanied by his wife Melania, unlike this time.

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At the top of Trump's agenda are business deals related to agriculture, aircraft, and other topics, with a host of top businessmen part of the US leader's delegation, aiming to secure lucrative agreements.

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Before arriving in Beijing, Trump took to social media to express his intention to push Xi to "open up" China to US firms, allowing them to "work their magic", as he boarded Air Force One en route to the Chinese capital.

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However, Trump is dealing with a China that is more confident and assertive than the one he encountered nine years ago, with unresolved trade and geopolitical tensions looming large over the two nations.

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The Iran conflict, in particular, has threatened to undermine Trump's position in talks with Xi, having already forced him to postpone the meeting from March, adding an extra layer of complexity to the discussions.

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Trump expects to have a "long talk" with Xi about Iran, which sells most of its US-sanctioned oil to China, but insisted that "I don't think we need any help with Iran" from Beijing, striking a note of confidence.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, adopted a somewhat different tone, stating that the US hopes to convince China to play a more active role in persuading Iran to abandon its current course of action in the Persian Gulf.

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Rubio expressed this sentiment in an interview with Fox News, which was aired on Wednesday, highlighting the complexities of the issue and the challenges that lie ahead.

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The long-standing trade war between the two countries will also be a major point of discussion, following Trump's sweeping tariffs last year, which triggered retaliatory levies that exceeded 100 percent.

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Trump and Xi are set to discuss extending a one-year tariff truce, which they agreed upon during their last meeting in South Korea in October, although a deal is far from certain, and the outcome remains uncertain.

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The issue of Taiwan will also be on the agenda, with Trump indicating that he will speak to Xi about US arms sales to the self-governing democracy claimed by China, marking a potential departure from the US's traditional stance on the matter.

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China's controls on rare earth exports, AI rivalry, and the tumultuous trade relationship between the two nations are also expected to be discussed by the two heads of state, as they seek to find common ground and alleviate tensions.

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Both sides will be looking to emerge from the summit with tangible wins, while also working to stabilise the often tense relationship between Beijing and Washington, which has significant implications for the global community.

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Trump will also be seeking to secure a firm date for a reciprocal visit by Xi to the United States later in 2026, aiming to demonstrate his rapport with his Chinese counterpart and cement their relationship.