President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to his Florida estate Thursday for a high-stakes summit, with the urgent threat of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and tensions over trade on the agenda for the first in-person meeting between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies.
CGTN’s Nathan King reports. President Xi and Madam Peng and the Chinese delegation met by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. They know each other following his recent two-day trip to Beijing.
Xi and his wife were greeted by the president and first lady Melania Trump at the Mar-a-Lago estate before making their way to dinner. The White House said the location was selected to give the two days of discussions a more relaxed feel, but the meeting kicked off amid suggestions the Trump administration was considering military action against Syria as it deliberated on how to respond to a chemical attack.
Still, Trump appeared lighthearted as he greeted Xi, gesturing and pointing to journalists as they tussled to get a shot of the two leaders together for the first time.
WATCH: Group photo with Xi, Trump and first ladies
WATCH: China President Xi Jinping is greeted by US President Donald Trump at front entrance to Mars-a-Lago
WATCH: President Trump’s speech before his dinner with President Xi
PHOTOS: China President Xi Jinping in the U.S.
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Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, second from left, with his wife Renda St. Clair, left, and Chinese president Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, right, at the Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., Thursday, April 6, 2017, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, walks with Chinese president Xi Jinping at the Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., Thursday, April 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Supporters of Chinese President Xi Jinping line the street outside Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., Thursday April 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
U.S. Military personnel go through security before entering Palm Beach International Airport, Fla., Thursday April 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Mar-A Lago is seen from the media van window, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
The table is set and ready for a dinner hosted by President Donald Trump for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., on Thursday, April 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The dinner place setting for Chinese President Xi Jinping is photographed at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., on Thursday, April 6, 2017, ahead of a dinner hosted by President Donald Trump . (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping as he arrives before dinner at Mar-a-Lago resort, Thursday, April 6, 2017, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with their wives, first lady Melania Trump and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan as they pose for photographers before dinner at Mar-a-Lago, Thursday, April 6, 2017, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, Thursday, April 6, 2017, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with their wives, first lady Melania Trump and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan are seated at the center, during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, Thursday, April 6, 2017, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
