Updated ,first published
Washington: Chinese President Xi Jinping said artificial intelligence must remain “under human control” and pressured Donald Trump to give Chinese companies more access to the American market as he made his first visit to the White House in 11 years.
Xi told Trump the world’s two largest economies would gain from co-operation and lose from confrontation. “Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand,” he said, a reference to Trump’s main political slogan.
The Chinese leader again invoked the Thucydides Trap, which describes the high risk of war when a rising power starts displacing an existing power. But this time, he added: “The Thucydides Trap can be overcome.”
Xi’s arrival at the White House on Thursday morning (US time) came amid media confusion as reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico continued to be barred from the grounds, despite a judge ordering the ban to be lifted – at least temporarily.
The outlets eventually regained entry at about noon, as Trump and Xi Jinping began their high-stakes bilateral meeting in the Oval Office.
But there were no cameras from the main US television networks present throughout Xi’s visit, with the news outlets continuing a boycott of pooled events in solidarity with CNN.
Xi’s arrival and the two leaders’ opening statements were streamed on the White House’s official social media channel. A select group of print reporters and photographers, known as the daily “pool”, was present – along with Chinese state media.
A White House staffer, Margo Martin, posted video of Xi laughing heartily as Trump showed him the framed picture of an “autopen” that replaces former president Joe Biden’s portrait on the West Wing colonnade.
In relatively brief remarks, Trump noted there had been many physical changes at the White House since Xi’s last visit in 2015, and praised his “truly great friendship” with the Chinese leader.
He spoke in broad terms about efforts to create “a more balanced trade relationship” between the world’s two largest economies, and doubled down on his attempt to rebrand artificial intelligence “super intelligence”.
“If we focus on our common interests, I am confident there is much we can achieve,” Trump said.
Xi spoke for longer, and made numerous observations and recommendations about particular policy areas – including American market access for Chinese firms.
“China keeps its door wide open, welcomes American companies wanting to invest and do business there. We hope Chinese companies are treated fairly here in the United States,” he said.
On artificial intelligence, Xi said both countries had the capability and responsibility to ensure AI development was “always under human control” and served the wellbeing of people.
“China-US co-operation may not solve every problem in the world, but without our co-operation, it would be hard to solve many of the world’s problems,” he said.
“China and the US, as two major countries, shoulder a historic responsibility of advancing human development and progress.
“We do not need to avoid mentioning competition, but our competition should be a healthy one, and should be kept within bounds.”
Xi raised the possibility of further co-operation on fentanyl, increasing direct flights between the two nations and his new invitation for 100,000 American students to undertake exchange in China over the next five years.
Two Chinese pandas – male Ping Ping and female Fu Shuang – would also arrive at Zoo Atlanta shortly, Xi said, as part of China’s diplomacy efforts.
Xi also said: “President Trump and I have respect for each other. We have built personal rapport and stayed in touch.”
After the speeches, the leaders and their wives watched a US military review and flyover. Trump and Xi held a bilateral meeting, while the First Lady and Madam Peng visited the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art.
Following the bilateral, Trump showed Xi the new helipad that has just been installed on the South Lawn of the White House grounds.
“We had a great meeting, and he has great interest in granite,” Trump said of the Chinese president. “He likes granite, he’s an expert on stone, aside from many other things, and he loves good granite.”
Xi left the grounds at about 1.30pm. The leaders did not respond to shouted questions from reporters about Taiwan and other matters.
Reporters from the banned media outlets were cheered when they re-entered the White House grounds at about midday on Thursday (local time). But it was not immediately clear whether Trump would allow them back into the rotating press “pool” that attends high-profile events such as Oval Office meetings.
Judge Timothy Kelly ruled late on Wednesday (US time) that Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico was likely unconstitutional, and blocked the White House from enforcing it for 14 days.
But those outlets called for an emergency hearing on Thursday morning when they found access still had not been restored.
In an affidavit, White House director of press operations Micah Stopperich said the White House began restoring the affected journalists’ access passes as early as 7.25am on Thursday, and that it was completed by 9.07am. The Secret Service began locating the previously confiscated badges, she said.
Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political reporter in Canberra.Connect via X or email.