In pictures: US president gets red carpet welcome upon arrival for talks with China's Xi
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday told China’s Xi Jinping their countries would have “a fantastic future together”, as they began a superpower summit in Beijing on thorny issues including Iran, trade and Taiwan. Heaping praise on his host, Trump told Xi it was “an honour to be your friend”, as the Chinese leader, in less effusive tones, said the two sides “should be partners and not rivals”. Xi had greeted Trump with a red carpet welcome at the opulent Great Hall of the People with military band fanfare, a gun salute and a host of schoolchildren jumping and chanting “welcome!”. Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump review the honour guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 14, 2026. —Reuters US President Donald Trump inspects an honour guard during a welcome ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 14, 2026. —Reuters Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump react near children during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, May 14, 2026. —Reuters Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) honour guards hold flags on the day of the welcome ceremony for US President Donald Trump by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 14, 2026. —Reuters China’s President Xi Jinping (C) shakes hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as US President Donald Trump (2nd R) looks on during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. —AFP US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with China’s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. —Reuters A television news programme at a restaurant in Hong Kong on May 14, 2026 shows the meeting between the US President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing. —AFP Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) honour guards march on the