United States President Donald Trump has begun high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing amid rising global tensions over trade, security and international diplomacy.

Trump arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday for his first visit to China since 2017 and was received with a formal state ceremony.

The meeting is expected to focus on trade relations, artificial intelligence, tariffs, technology restrictions and regional security issues, including tensions surrounding Taiwan and Iran.

During opening remarks, Trump expressed optimism about future relations between both countries, while Xi called for stable ties and greater cooperation between Beijing and Washington.

The talks come amid ongoing economic and geopolitical disagreements between the world’s two largest economies.

Trump is accompanied by senior American officials and business executives as both sides seek to strengthen economic cooperation despite existing tensions.