In photos: Trump kicks off high-stakes summit with Xi

President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing to begin a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking a critical moment in U.S.-China relations. The visit was met with formal welcomes, including a military band and crowds waving flags, underscoring the significance of the talks. Key topics on the agenda include Iran, Taiwan, and artificial intelligence, reflecting the broad and complex nature of the bilateral relationship. Ahead of the summit, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held extensive preparatory discussions in Seoul, focusing on economic and trade issues. Chinese officials described the meeting as "candid, in-depth and constructive," though analysts remain cautious about the prospects for major breakthroughs. Deep-rooted structural competition and mutual distrust continue to challenge efforts to reach substantive agreements. Trump’s delegation includes prominent business figures such as tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Jensen Huang, highlighting the economic and technological dimensions of the talks. The leaders are scheduled for a bilateral tea and working lunch, aiming to foster dialogue before Trump returns to Washington. Despite the high-profile nature of the summit, expectations for concrete deliverables remain modest amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.