Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi to Mar-a-Lago

World Today

Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Melania Trump, Peng LiyuanPresident Donald Trump talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with their wives, first lady Melania Trump and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan as they pose for photographers before dinner at Mar-a-Lago, Thursday, April 6, 2017, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to his Florida estate Thursday for a high-stakes summit, with the urgent threat of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and tensions over trade on the agenda for the first in-person meeting between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies.

CGTN’s Nathan King reports. President Xi and Madam Peng and the Chinese delegation met by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. They know each other following his recent two-day trip to Beijing.

Xi and his wife were greeted by the president and first lady Melania Trump at the Mar-a-Lago estate before making their way to dinner. The White House said the location was selected to give the two days of discussions a more relaxed feel, but the meeting kicked off amid suggestions the Trump administration was considering military action against Syria as it deliberated on how to respond to a chemical attack.

Still, Trump appeared lighthearted as he greeted Xi, gesturing and pointing to journalists as they tussled to get a shot of the two leaders together for the first time.

WATCH: Group photo with Xi, Trump and first ladies


WATCH: China President Xi Jinping is greeted by US President Donald Trump at front entrance to Mars-a-Lago


WATCH: President Trump’s speech before his dinner with President Xi


PHOTOS: China President Xi Jinping in the U.S.

Click on any image for full-size slideshow.