The Latest: Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump to meet in Beijing for high-profile summit

Xi will likely bring up America’s decision to sell weapons to Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as its own territory. Trump in December authorized an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, but has not yet moved forward with delivery.

Stability in the relationship is the main goal of the two-day summit. Trump is expected to leave just after midday Friday after a final private meeting with Xi.

The war with Iran is also likely to be a key topic. Ahead of the meetings, Trump hoped China would use its considerable leverage to prod Iran to agree to U.S. terms to end the two-month old war or reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz, but he has tempered those calls ahead of the summit.

Here is the Latest:

Democratic lawmaker urges Trump not to be ‘driven by improvisation, personal flattery’ in talks

Trump has talked up his personal rapport with Xi despite deep differences on a slew of issues.

Sen. Mark Warner, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that Trump would be misguided to put too much stock in his personal dynamic with the Chinese leader.

“We cannot afford to trade lasting American strength for a short-term political win or to mistake a photo op for real strategic progress,” Warner said. “Any agreement reached with Beijing during this summit must deliver tangible results for American workers, our security, and our long-term competitiveness.”

Rubio says Trump will make the case to China to take a ‘more active role’ on Iran

The secretary of state, who is with Trump in Beijing, said administration officials will underscore that “economies are melting down because of this crisis” and that will result in consumers “buying less Chinese product.”

“So it’s in their interest to resolve this,” Rubio said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they’re doing now and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf.”

The message contrasts with comments by Trump, who downplayed differences with Xi over Iran before departing from Washington.

“We have a lot of things to discuss,” Trump told reporters. “I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control.”

Trump kicks off the busiest part of his China trip

The president arrived in Beijing late on Wednesday. On Thursday, the summit begins in earnest.

China's Xi will officially welcome Trump during a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, followed by bilateral talks.

Then there’s some cultural programming — a visit to the Temple of Heaven — before a state banquet capping the day.

This trip is expected to be long on pageantry and symbolism but neither side has yet offered concrete details on what Trump will come away with.

▶ Read more

Xi and Trump will be meeting at the Great Hall of the People

The Great Hall of the People was built in 1959 for the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It’s a massive structure, some 171,800 square meters or 42.5 acres, on the western side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

This is where China hosts most of its foreign dignitaries, as well as key events like the annual meeting of its ceremonial legislature. The hall covers an area bigger than the Forbidden Palace.

Construction of the building was completed in a quick 10 months, and mostly with manpower. China was not heavily industrialized and the chief engineer for the project at the time, Yang Sixin, told state media that “the bricks that needed to go up were all transported by hand, carried in baskets with a pole. I’ve also carried the bricks up myself.”

While the structure’s size and towering structure is similar to buildings found in the Soviet style, its decorations inside were designed by referencing Chinese history, such as floral designs from the Tang dynasty.