France, May 14 -- Trade, artificial intelligence, the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East were also on the agenda as the two leaders met for more than two hours at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

Trump received a lavish welcome on arrival, with a military honour guard, cannon fire and crowds of children waving Chinese and American flags and chanting: "Welcome, welcome, warm welcome!"

Against that carefully staged backdrop, the two leaders quickly moved to some of the most sensitive issues dividing Beijing and Washington.

Trump in Beijing to reset US-China relations, with tariffs top of the agenda Flashpoint island

"Taiwan independence is incompatible with peace in the Taiwan Strait," Xi said, according to Chinese state ...