Launch of the Xi-Trump Summit in Beijing

SadaNews: Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed his American counterpart Donald Trump in Beijing on Thursday, where a highly anticipated summit took place at the Great Hall of the People.

Trump arrived at the hall in the Chinese capital for two days of challenging discussions with Xi.

The two presidents shook hands as Trump arrived in a motorcade at the hall, where he was greeted by an American delegation including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and executives from companies including Elon Musk.

The Sino-American summit is expected to address several issues, including the Iran War, trade, artificial intelligence, and Taiwan.

At the start of the summit, the Chinese president stated: "I believe that our common interests with the United States outweigh the extent of our differences."

Xi considered that "stabilizing our relationship with Washington is beneficial for the world."

He added: "I look forward to exchanging views on major issues with Trump."

In turn, the American president pledged that the relations between the two countries would become "better than ever before."

Trump told his Chinese counterpart: "We will have a great future together."

The United States is seeking to pressure China to persuade Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and engage in negotiations that lead to an agreement to end the war.

Rubio revealed that U.S. officials would try to persuade China to play a more effective role in resolving the conflict in Iran, coinciding with Trump's visit to Beijing.

Rubio explained during an interview with Fox News from aboard Air Force One on Wednesday while heading to China, that the United States has made its case to Beijing on the necessity of engaging in efforts to ease rising tensions with Iran.