Sri Lanka, May 14 -- US President Donald Trump toasted close and historic ties between the US and China, projecting stability and warmth in the relationship after a day of high-stakes talks with China's leader Xi Jinping.

During brief remarks at a state banquet Thursday, Trump called the day's discussions "extremely positive and productive" and thanked his counterpart for the "great honor" of what he described as a "magnificent welcome" ceremony earlier in the day.

Trump drew parallels between the two countries throughout history, calling it "one of the most consequential relationships in world history." He referenced US merchant Samuel Shaw's trade with China 250 years ago, Benjamin Franklin's citations of Confucius in his newspaper, P...