President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday in Mr. Xi’s first visit to Washington in over a decade, an event marked by ceremonial fanfare but underscored by ongoing strategic tensions between the two nations. The arrival included a flyover by a stealth bomber, a performance by a military brass band, and a traditional red carpet welcome.

During the opening remarks, Mr. Trump described the relationship between the two leaders as a “truly great friendship” and highlighted “tremendous strides” made on shared issues. Still, the meeting was widely viewed as unlikely to produce major breakthroughs on several contentious topics, including the fragile truce in the ongoing trade war, the status of Taiwan, the competition in artificial intelligence technology, and China’s foreign policy support for Iran and Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine.

The leaders’ interactions included a brief, informal walk to showcase recent renovations at the White House, such as the construction of a new ballroom and a helipad. Throughout the visit, Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi refrained from responding to reporters’ questions on sensitive subjects, including Iran, Taiwan, and the imprisonment of Hong Kong media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai. When pressed, Mr. Trump made a light remark noting that Mr. Xi “loves granite.”

While the ceremonial aspects of the visit highlighted diplomatic decorum, analysts noted the underlying divisions remain deep. Both sides appear intent on managing their rivalry without allowing it to escalate, yet key policy disagreements persist with little indication of imminent resolution. The visit reinforced the complexity of U.S.-China relations amid global geopolitical and economic challenges defining this critical bilateral relationship.