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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan at a White House state dinner Thursday evening. The formal event capped a day of talks involving trade, artificial intelligence and other tensions between the two countries.
Xi’s trip marked the first U.S. state visit by a Chinese president in more than a decade. It also followed Trump’s visit to Beijing in May.
State Dinner Follows High-Stakes Talks
Trump and Xi met earlier Thursday as both governments sought greater stability between the world’s two largest economies. Their discussions came amid continuing disagreements over trade, Taiwan, Iran and access to advanced technology.
The countries agreed to extend an existing trade truce by two months. However, several economic disputes remain unresolved.
U.S. officials have pressed China to maintain exports of rare earths and other critical minerals. China has also faced questions about meeting commitments involving American agricultural products and aircraft.
Artificial intelligence emerged as another major issue. Officials have discussed creating a system for notifying each other about AI incidents that could threaten national security.
During his dinner toast, Xi said the leaders held detailed discussions and reached a shared understanding on several matters. He called for the countries to pursue a constructive relationship despite their differences.
American Ingredients Meet Chinese Influences
The dinner took place in the White House East Room. Melania Trump led preparations for the evening, according to the White House.
The meal began with Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine. The selection honored the “Toast to Peace” shared by President Richard Nixon and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing in 1972.
Guests received yellow squash velouté with wild mushrooms, crispy pancetta and scallion oil as the first course. Sesame-crusted sea bass followed with baby bok choy, roasted eggplant and herb sauce.
Dessert featured vanilla crémeux, walnut frangipane and sour cherry confit. White House honey ice cream accompanied the dish.
Red linens, dahlias and ranunculus decorated the tables. The color red carries traditional associations with celebration and good fortune in Chinese culture. The White House also used its Reagan State Service and historic vermeil collection.
Technology and Business Leaders Attend
The guest list included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Chinese officials included Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Vice Premier He Lifeng and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.
Technology executives made up a notable part of the audience. Guests included Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Apple’s Tim Cook, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Tesla CEO Elon Musk also attended. Their presence reflected the growing role of semiconductors, AI and digital technology in U.S.-China relations.
Other guests included corporate, financial and government leaders. Tenor Christopher Macchio headlined the entertainment, joined by Marine and Army musicians.
Ceremony Carries Diplomatic Message
The state dinner served as both a ceremonial welcome and a diplomatic signal. Earlier events included a military arrival ceremony and a museum visit by Melania Trump and Peng.
Major disagreements between Washington and Beijing remain. Still, the formal visit allowed both governments to emphasize dialogue while continuing negotiations over trade, security and technology.
Developments from the talks could affect American consumers, businesses and workers, including communities across Texas with close ties to international trade.