SOURCE: BBC
Donald Trump says the US and China have made “tremendous strides on the issues facing our two countries” as he welcomes Xi Jinping to the White House for talks
Trump says he and Xi will discuss “security, technology and super intelligence” – the US president’s name for artificial intelligence
President Xi, meanwhile, calls for “continued dialogue” with the US and hopes that “Chinese companies are treated fairly here”
Before Xi arrived at the White House, Trump again said he did not want more AI regulation. “I want to leave it exactly where it is,” he wrote online. “That is China’s position also”
Despite Trump’s warm welcome, there will be disagreements, expects the BBC’s Daniel Bush – while our China correspondent Laura Bicker says Xi is now in a far stronger position than when he first met Trump in 2017
Tech bosses and AI executives will join Trump and Xi at a state dinner later
The ceremonies for President Trump and President Xi have been orderly and efficient. For the press covering them, in contrast, it’s been a chaotic scene here at the White House today — with limited access to the two leaders’ events.
The media typically has more access to cover visiting heads of state, through “sprays” for the pool at the start of Oval Office meetings and sometimes press conferences in the East Room.
But the main Trump-Xi events so far today — outside of the arrival and military review ceremonies — have been closed press, including even to the pool.
There was a moment of chaos earlier when it seemed as if the Oval Office meeting between the leaders would open up. This led to some shouting and jostling in the White House briefing room as US and Chinese journalists scrambled to try and line up to get in. But the White House only brought in still photographers in briefly, and the melee subsided.
The scramble to cover this summit comes amid the continued clash over media access between the White House and three outlets that were banned by Trump last week.
Early this morning a federal judge temporarily ordered access restored for CNN, MSNOW and Politico, but the outlets filed a new motion hours later saying the White House wasn’t complying with the court order.
All three outlets say their journalists have since been readmitted to the White House.
Though the impasse has already impacted pool coverage. In solidarity with CNN, other television networks agreed they would not be filming pooled moments of this visit.
The press is gathered in the Rose Garden waiting for Presidents Trump and Xi to step outside for a military review ceremony.
An US honor guard is positioned on the roof atop the West Wing Colonnade and Oval Office, made up of military personnel holding American and Chinese flags.
It is highly unusual to see uniformed soldiers standing at attention above the Oval Office.
The striking visual reflects President Trump’s effort to pull out all the stops for Xi’s first visit to the White House in roughly a decade.
The summit may not produce much in the way of major new deals. But the pomp and circumstance surrounding Xi’s visit, including the arrival ceremony yesterday, has far exceeded the welcome given other visiting heads of state in Trump’s second term.14:59
Unlike most state visits, today we do not have any live video footage of President Trump greeting President Xi.
That’s because last week President Trump banned three outlets from the White House: Politico, MS Now and CNN.
In solidarity with CNN, other television networks agreed they would not be filming pooled moments of this visit.
Late last night, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately reinstate access to the White House for the three news organisations, while their legal action is considered.
But when some reporters from those outlets turned up at the White House this morning, they were not allowed in. They are challenging that in court again.
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Xi announces study exchange programme for Americans to visit Chinapublished at 14:56:56
Xi now recalls Chinese and US troops fighting “shoulder to shoulder against fascist aggression”.
He adds: “Chinese people have never forgotten that part of history, nor have the American people.”
Given this, the Chinese leader announces an invitation for 100,000 young Americans to visit China for study exchange programmes over the next five years.
On Beijing and Washington’s friendship, Xi says two pandas will meet Americans in their new home in Atlanta’s Zoo. Gifting pandas has long been a symbol of China’s friendship.
Before ending his speech, President Xi says achieving the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand”.
“Let us meet the people’s expectations and show our historical initiative, let us keep advancing the cause of friendship between our two peoples and work together to build a better world,” he says.
Bao Li, a male giant panda bear, eats bamboo at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC last year. The panda is one of two on loan to the zoo from China14:49
Xi continues, saying he hopes “Chinese companies are treated fairly here in the US”.
He says both the US and China have a responsibility to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) for good, ensure it remains under human control and is to the benefit of people.
Xi adds that Beijing is willing to co-operate on trade with Washington, and that competition between the two countries should be “healthy”, saying it should be a race of catching up with one another, not who wins or loses.14:47
Xi says the two countries should strengthen their communication.
“China and the US are different… but through candid, in-depth, and continued dialogue, our two countries can understand each other better… and build up mutual trust,” the Chinese leader says.
Xi adds that he and President Trump have “respect” for each other and stay in touch.
“We should co-operate with sincerity,” he says, calling the interests of the two countries “deeply intertwined”.
There is plenty of room to work together, he adds.
While co-operation between the two countries “may not solve every problem in the world”, without it, it would be hard to solve many of the world’s problems, Xi says.
Xi has now started speaking, saying he is very glad to pay a state visit to the “beautiful” United States.
The Chinese leader thanks the Trumps for their hospitality and congratulates them on the 250th anniversary of US independence.
Xi says both China and the US are great countries with great people, and says he is visiting the US to continue the friendship and expand co-operation.
He adds that China and the US, as two major countries, show their historic responsibility of advancing human development and progress
Xi says he is ready to work with Trump to steer the giant ship of the China-US relationship towards a steady future.
