The two leaders exchanged a warm handshake after Trump arrived at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, kicking off an elaborate welcome ceremony.

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The welcome ceremony featured a military band playing The Star Spangled Banner and schoolchildren jumping and cheering as Xi and Trump walked past.

Trump administration officials were also in attendance on Thursday. A delegation of American CEOs was also in attendance, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Apple leader Tim Cook.

The leaders then began their bilateral meeting alongside top-level officials in their delegations, in which they are expected to discuss a wide range of thorny topics, including trade, tech and the war with Iran.