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President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are meeting Thursday at the White House for consequential talks covering Taiwan, trade, artificial intelligence and the Iran war. The packed visit also features military ceremony, formal hospitality and a state dinner with American business executives.

China analysts broadly expect a cautious summit shaped by the leaders’ personal relationship and policy objectives, with few major deliverables likely to emerge. Even so, their latest meeting carries real geopolitical risk as Washington and Beijing confront several sensitive issues.

That significance was apparent Wednesday evening when Xi arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Trump met him at the airplane stairs after walking along a red carpet rolled out by U.S. service members, marking the president’s first trip to the base to welcome a foreign leader.

A source familiar with the summit plans confirmed the unusual gesture to CNBC on condition of anonymity. The last president to offer such a welcome was Barack Obama, who greeted then Pope Francis on the Andrews tarmac 11 years ago this week.

Before leaving the base, Xi watched a military flyover featuring two B-1 bombers as cannons fired and a U.S. Air Force band performed the national anthem. Chinese media prominently displayed images of the ceremonial reception as evidence of Beijing’s global standing.

Trump continued the flattering treatment Thursday morning on Truth Social. “I met President Xi at the plane (Airport!) yesterday and he looks strong, vibrant, and fit - Better than ever,” he wrote.

The president also confirmed that artificial intelligence would rank near the top of the agenda. “Super Intelligence (SI) will be a big topic of discussion,” Trump wrote, using his preferred term as concerns rise over the risks associated with increasingly powerful technology.

“But I want to leave it exactly where it is,” Trump added, reflecting his resistance to calls for slower artificial intelligence growth. Trump has argued that the United States must defeat China in the competition for dominance in the rapidly expanding sector.

“That is China’s position also,” Trump wrote, suggesting Xi similarly opposes new regulations governing artificial intelligence. Trump added that the American “guardrail” is the Department of Justice, restating his administration’s position that adequate regulatory safeguards already exist.

The Iran war is another scheduled subject. “I’ll be talking about that and many other subjects but it’s all coming along, including that,” Trump told reporters Wednesday evening after returning to the White House.

Last month, the United States launched “Operation Economic Outcast,” an effort designed to damage Iran by imposing secondary sanctions on its financial enablers. The plan prompted questions about possible action against China, which the source identified as Tehran’s leading trading partner and oil buyer.

The Trump administration has said that no country is exempt from possible sanctions, though it has not directly targeted Beijing. Trump has also stopped short of unreserved criticism of China over its reported connections with Iran ahead of his meeting with Xi.

Asked about a Wall Street Journal report that Chinese entities supplied Tehran with satellite imagery used in deadly July attacks on U.S. troops in Jordan, Trump offered a restrained response. “They basically do what we do,” he said of Beijing’s surveillance operations.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomed Xi and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan at the White House on Thursday morning. Military personnel lined the south portico stairs holding alternating American and Chinese flags while trumpets sounded a fanfare.

The arrival marks Xi’s first Washington visit since September 2015. The leaders are scheduled to proceed to the Rose Garden for a military review before Trump and Xi hold a bilateral meeting while Melania Trump and Madame Peng attend a separate event.

That evening, the president and first lady will host the Chinese delegation for a state dinner in the White House East Room. Both leaders are expected to deliver remarks at the beginning of the event, and numerous U.S. business executives are scheduled to attend.

Reuters reported that Xi was expected to arrive with his own group of chief executives, but that entourage did not materialize. The South China Morning Post reported Thursday that a small group of Chinese executives traveled separately and did not yet know whether they could attend the events.

On Friday, the presidents and first ladies are scheduled to hold a private tea at the White House and tour the National Archives before Xi departs. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly described the gathering as a reciprocal visit following Trump’s summer summit in China.

DISCLAIMER: GoldInvestors.news is not a registered investment, legal or tax advisor or broker/dealer. All investment/financial opinions expressed by GoldInvestors.news are from the personal research and experience of the owner of the site and are intended as educational material. Although best efforts are made to ensure that all information is accurate and up to date, occasionally unintended errors and misprints may occur.