Image source, China News Service/Weibo

For the second day in a row, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is trending on Chinese social media.

On Weibo, the hashtag "Rubio gives thumb up to Chinese aesthetics" has been gaining traction over the past few hours.

A video from Chinese state media shows the US top diplomat standing in the meeting room at the Great Hall of People. He is seen looking up to the ceiling, giving a thumbs-up, then turning to defence secretary Pete Hegseth and pointing upward.

Image source, Getty Images

"This must be his first time in China," one comment read.

It is indeed his first visit, at least according to public records. In 2020, when he was a senator, Rubio was slapped with sanctions by Beijing - including an entry ban - over his remarks on Hong Kong and human rights issues in China. China hasn't lifted its sanctions on Rubio since.

But in January 2025, China changed the official translation of Rubio's name.

Two diplomats told news agency AFP that they believed this served as a sort of linguistic loophole, allowing China to bypass its sanctions, which were imposed under the old spelling of his name.

It appears that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has brought his son X Æ A-Xii to Beijing. The pair was spotted walking in the Great Hall of the People.

The 6-year-old, nicknamed X, also made a rare public appearance last year when Musk brought him for a meeting with Trump at the White House.

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

How the Iran war is unsettling China and its ambitionspublished at 10:01 BST 14 May

10:01 BST 14 May

Laura Bicker
China correspondent

Shortly after the Iran war started, China lowered its annual economic growth target to the lowest level since 1991, even as Beijing continued its rapid development of high-tech and renewables industries.

China may have hoped to export its way out of economic trouble.

But it has spent a year fighting a trade war with the United States, and now faces the prospect of upheaval in the Middle East, which supplies both its major shipping routes and a lot of its energy needs.

The longer the war drags on, the more it could hurt, especially if traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.

China is keen to stay out of any conflict, but that does not mean Beijing isn't deeply troubled by what is happening in the Middle East.

The war in Iran, which has triggered a global energy crisis, was expected to loom large over today's talks.

En route to Beijing on Air Force One, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that Washington wanted Beijing to be proactive in resolving the conflict with Iran.

But mention of the topic was mostly absent today, according to China's foreign ministry statement on the Trump-Xi meeting.

The statement dedicated sections to trade and Taiwan, but not Iran - though it mentioned that the two presidents had "exchanged views" on the "Middle East Situation", among other international issues.

The US wants China's help to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, while China has been quietly playing peacemaker behind the scenes without getting entangled in the conflict.

How should we read China's warning on Taiwan?published at 09:32 BST 14 May

09:32 BST 14 May

Tessa Wong
Asia Digital Reporter

While Xi's opening remarks to Trump at the start of their bilateral meeting were friendly enough, behind closed doors the Chinese leader has delivered a punchier message.

China's foreign ministry readout of the meeting states that Xi told Trump the issue of Taiwan was the most important one in their relationship, and that if it was handled "properly" they would enjoy stability.

If not, they would have "clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy".

“'Taiwan independence' and cross-strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water," the statement added, saying the US must "exercise extra caution in handling the Taiwan question".

Such comments are not new: China and Xi himself have issued similar warnings to the US countless times before.

The Chinese government also made this clear earlier this month when Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his US counterpart Marco Rubio.

But it's notable that these warnings are being reiterated months after the US committed to its biggest arms sales to Taiwan.

Xi is underscoring once again that the Taiwan issue is the reddest of red lines, and he wants Trump to prioritise his relationship with China - especially at a time when they are negotiating hard on trade.

Image source, Getty Images

There has been some fascination around what might be on the menu at tonight's state banquet.

During his last visit in 2017, Trump was served a tailored, multi-course meal that some say was intended to ease American tastes buds to Chinese cuisine.

The dishes included kungpao chicken, creamy seafood chowder and stewed beef steak in tomato sauce - some of which are more familiar to Americans than native Chinese. Trump is known to enjoy his steaks well-done and frequently accompanies them with ketchup.

Trump's predecessors, though, were treated to more adventurous dishes. In 1972, Richard Nixon tried shark's fin soup, Peking duck and a soft-belly eel dish, among other dishes.

The 37th US president impressed his Chinese counterparts with expert chopstick skills, which he reportedly spent hours practising. Nixon's historic visit - and his chopsticks diplomacy - helped thaw tensions between the two countries.

Tom Bateman
US State Department correspondent, Beijing

Earlier, I was outside the Great Hall of the People, just metres from Trump as Xi accompanied him along the red carpet towards. Members of the press were standing just behind hundreds of children holding flowers and flags and shouting, “Welcome, welcome!"

The US president looked mightily impressed.

He mouthed some words at the gaggle of youngsters that I couldn’t hear. There were broad smiles and effusive handshakes with Xi, Trump’s poise slow and deliberative as the two men walked to a viewing platform where troops with their weapons stood motionless.

A gun salute was fired to welcome Trump while the military band flawlessly played the US national anthem. I could feel the cannons’ deep, long booms which reverberated across Tiananmen Square. Trump seemed to be soaking up the display of power from a country whose rise is challenging America’s superpower status.

While some previous presidents may have shunned such an image, Trump told Xi of his admiration: “The military, it’s obvious, it couldn’t be better,” he said as their meeting began.

Tariff rates between the US and China have grown increasingly complex over the years, with policy swings and overlapping measures dating back to Trump's first term. Here's where things stand so far:

2018

• Trump announces a series of tariffs on Chinese imports in a bid to bring manufacturing jobs back home and to make trade with the US fairer. US tariffs on Chinese goods hovers around the 20% mark and stays there throughout Joe Biden’s presidency

April 2025

• Trump, re-elected as president, rolls out his so‑called Liberation Day tariffs. He threatens import duties on most US trading partners and brings the tariffs on Chinese goods close to 50%. Beijing hits back, triggering a tit‑for‑tat trade war that soon brings the tariffs threatened by each side soaring past 100%

May 2025

• US and Chinese officials hold trade talks to try to cool tensions. Tariffs on Chinese imports were reduced from 145% to 30%, while China’s duties on American goods were dropped from 125% to 10%

October 2025

• Trump and Xi meet in person for negotiations after months of trade threats. The US restricts the sales of semiconductors to China, a move that prompts Beijing to tighten controls on critical rare earth metals
• China later suspends its rare earth export controls and agrees to buy US agricultural goods. Washington drops part of the tariffs it had imposed on China over fentanyl

2026

• The US Supreme Court strikes down Trump's Liberation Day tariffs
• The White House announces an interim tariff measure on all global exports to the US under a separate law. This brings the overall tariff rate on Chinese goods to the US to around 10%

What can Xi and Trump actually agree on this week?published at 08:41 BST 14 May

08:41 BST 14 May

Suranjana Tewari
Asia Business Correspondent

The Trump-Xi summit is expected to focus less on major breakthroughs and more on stabilising ties between the world's two largest economies.

Is the meeting likely to yield major trade outcomes? Most analysts say no.

US officials have also said they do not expect China to announce a large-scale investment package in American manufacturing.

One area under discussion is a proposed US-China "Board of Investment" which would provide a framework for future investment opportunities. But officials say a lot of work needs to be done before this can be implemented.

On trade, the most likely outcome is an extension of the existing truce agreed last October, which paused any tariff escalation.

The agreements could also include increased Chinese purchases of US goods and some symbolic investment promises.

But deep differences remain on tariffs, export controls and industrial policy, especially around semiconductors and critical minerals, making a broader agreement unlikely.

Fan Wang
BBC News, Singapore

Since yesterday, Trump's visit has been dominating the attention of Chinese social media users.

Hashtags about this trip have been viewed around 400 million times on Weibo. The grand welcome ceremony and the opening remarks of the bilateral meeting were livestreamed by state media across social platforms, drawing millions of viewers.

These platforms are heavily censored and the authorities play a major role in shaping the course of public discussions, so it doesn't fully reflect what Chinese people are thinking. Most comments shown echo Beijing's stance - that China is demonstrating how a superpower should conduct itself, and that the two countries should work together.

Marco Rubio is one of the talking points. The US state secretary was sanctioned by Beijing in 2020 over his remarks on Hong Kong and China's human rights issue. The sanctions entailed a ban from entering China, but the government has clearly made an exception for this trip.

There is also interest in Trump's business delegation, as well as in smaller details from the bottled water on the meeting table to other symbolic elements of the visit.

Body language is often an indicator of power dynamics between state leaders. In this video, we unpack what Trump's and Xi's body language this morning could reveal.

Trump's US delegation to Beijing included many top-rung executives who run businesses tied to some of the most sensitive US‑China economic frictions, such as electric cars and technology.

The White House provided the full list of top executives who attended the ceremony.

• Tim Cook (Apple)
• Stephen Schwarzman (Blackstone)
• Kelly Ortberg (Boeing)
• Brian Sikes (Cargill)
• Jane Fraser (Citigroup)
• Henry Lawrence Culp (GE Aerospace)
• David Solomon (Goldman Sachs)
• Jacob Thaysen (Illumina)
• Michael Miebach (Mastercard)
• Sanjay Mehrotra (Micron Technology)
• Jensen Huang (Nvidia)
• Cristiano Amon (Qualcomm)
• Elon Musk (SpaceX and Tesla)
• Ryan McInerney (Visa)

More CEOs are expected to join the delegation later in the day.

Image source, Getty Images

Laura Bicker
China correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Donald Trump built up a political brand by talking tough on China.

But today he lavished praise on his host as he sat across from President Xi.“You’re a great leader. I say it to everybody,” he said in what appeared to be unscripted remarks.

Trump appeared to be wowed by the precision of the military honour guard which formed the ceremonial welcome outside the Great Hall of the People.

And Trump enjoyed the adoration of Chinese children waving and cheering - he paused twice to say hello. On his tour of the Temple of Heaven, he remarked that China was beautiful.

The visuals of this visit may be designed to flatter the American president.

But in China’s world of diplomacy this careful choreography, which it knows will be beamed live across US networks, carries real weight.

The spectacle is designed to show that China’s door is open to guests. Xi has rolled out the red carpet for a number of world leaders in recent months, including US allies such as Canada, the UK, and Germany - all eager to do a deal with Beijing.

And now, this grand welcome may lead some to conclude that the balance of power is shifting in China's direction.

Ting Chiang
BBC News Chinese, Taipei

Image source, Bloomberg via Getty Images

Many in Taiwan are worried the US will make compromises to China over the status of the self-governed, democratic island in exchange for business interests after Donald Trump meets Xi Jinping. In April, Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu told Bloomberg: “What we are the most afraid is to put Taiwan on the menu of talks between Xi Jinping and President Trump.”

There has been no indication Trump will change the US's position on Taiwan. But if the US wanted to, it could change its declaratory language to “opposing” instead of “not supporting” Taiwan independence, wrote Patricia M Kim of the Brookings Institution in Washington.

The subtle change would be significant as it would “influence how Beijing calculates risk”.

However, last week Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there should be no "destabilising events" regarding Taiwan in the "mutual interest" of both countries. The US has also reiterated its commitments to Taiwan in recent days.

Laura Bicker
China correspondent

The two leaders talked for two hours, far longer than expected.

President Xi warned Donald Trump that the issue of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory, could bring the two countries into conflict. He is pushing for a delay or a reduction in US arms sales to the self-governed island, which Beijing has long claimed.

Donald Trump, on the other hand, has brought with him CEOs of 30 major tech businesses to Beijing in the hope that China will open its doors to more America firms.

After the talks ended, Trump lavished praise on his host as he toured the 15th Century Temple of Heaven where Chinese emperors once prayed for a great harvest.

Trump called Xi a great leader, described the talks as "great", and remarked to reporters that China was beautiful.

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province that will eventually come under its control, and it has not ruled out the use of force to achieve this.

In recent years Beijing has ramped up live-fire military drills, including simulated blockades of ports around the self-ruled island, unsettling Taiwanese authorities.

Washington adheres to the "One China" policy, which recognises Beijing as the sole Chinese government, but it maintains unofficial ties with Taipei. The US is also bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

Last year, Trump's administration announced the sale of an $11bn weapons package to Taipei, which angered Beijing. Reports say Trump has yet to formally approve the sale, though, and that it will be on the table during his talks with Xi.

Tom Bateman
US State Department correspondent, reporting from Beijing

Trump and Xi walked slowly together towards the Temple of Heaven, as a guide quietly explained the site.

The rest of the delegation stayed some paces behind, closer to the park, as the two leaders stood in front of the striking blue and gold imperial building - part of a complex of temples where emperors would pray for good harvest.

Xi was smiling as Trump appeared to be listening closely to the guide, before the Chinese leader ushered him to a spot where the two men stood silently for the cameras.

The pool asked Trump how the talks were going, to which he replied “great”.

As a second questioner asked if he had talked about Taiwan, Trump continued his previous thought saying “great place, incredible, China’s beautiful”.

Asked again if he had talked about Taiwan, Trump simply looked straight ahead, as did Xi.

The question was asked a third time, after the two men had turned to walk towards steps to the temple.

Image source, Reuters

If you're just joining us, the first bilateral meeting of Trump's visit to China has ended. Here's what else we've been covering:

• Trump arrived at about 10:00 local time to a spectacular welcome at the Great Hall of the People, greeted by a large military entourage and dozens of flag-waving children
• The atmosphere was friendly as the two leaders shook hands on the red carpet
• In his opening remarks, Xi said the US and China should be "partners not rivals", and "the whole world is watching"
• Trump said it was "an honour" to meet Xi and he was looking forward to "the biggest summit ever"
• Trump is joined by tech bosses including Tesla's Elon Musk and Nvidia's Jensen Huang
• The bilateral talks ended after around two hours - longer than expected - after which the two presidents took a tour of the Temple of Heaven
• Taiwan is expected to be a key topic of discussion during the trip, and the self-ruled island's leaders are watching the Trump-Xi meeting closely. Chinese state media says Xi warned of potential "conflict" in bilateral ties over Taiwan

Image source, Reuters

The Temple of Heaven is a sacred place in ancient Chinese history.

Built in the 15th Century during the Ming Dynasty, it symbolised the connection between heaven and earth. Emperors of both the Ming and Qing dynasties visited the temple to offer sacrifice to heaven and pray for abundant harvests.

In modern history, the site has also welcomed notable international visitors. Trump is only the second sitting US president who's visited - the first was Gerald Ford, in 1975.

Henry Kissinger, the US diplomat who played a major role in normalising ties between Beijing and Washington in the 1970s, visited the place 15 times, according to Chinese media.

Trump has descended the steps at the Temple of Heaven and returned to his car, according to the White House press pool. His motorcade is rolling.

As a reminder of what else we can expect today: later there will be a state banquet held in honour of Trump.