Chinese President Xi Jinping warned his American counterpart Donald Trump today that their two countries could become involved in “conflict” if Washington mishandles the Taiwan issue, according to state television.

“The Taiwan issue is the most important issue in Sino-American relations. If it is handled properly, relations between the two countries” will remain “overall stable.” However, “if it is handled badly, the two countries will confront each other,” and could even “become involved in conflict,” Xi said, using a Mandarin word that does not necessarily imply armed confrontation.

News of the Chinese president’s warning became public after the two leaders concluded their closed-door meeting at the Great Hall of the People, which lasted approximately two hours in total.

After the two-hour meeting, Trump and Xi visited the historic Temple of Heaven, one of the most important cultural and historical sites in the Chinese capital. The two leaders arrived there shortly after 1 p.m. local time, with Trump telling cameras that “China is beautiful.” The complex, which dates back to the Ming dynasty in the 15th century and had been closed to the public since Tuesday ahead of the American president’s visit, carries special symbolism in relations between Beijing and Washington. It was there that American diplomat Henry Kissinger secretly visited in 1971 during a historic mission that paved the way for the restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States and China.

Impressive Welcome With Full Honors

Xi Jinping welcomed Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People with military honors and strict ceremonial protocol in Tiananmen Square at the start of their critical meeting in Beijing. To the sounds of the national anthems of both countries and in the presence of a military honor guard, the two leaders exchanged a handshake before beginning talks on trade, technology, and the crisis involving Iran. In his opening remarks, Xi warned that “the world has reached a new crossroads” and called on the United States and China to “be partners, not rivals,” while Trump spoke of a “fantastic relationship” with the Chinese president, saying he had “great respect” for him and for China.

Trump’s motorcade arrived at Tiananmen Square shortly after 5 a.m. Thursday Greek time, with the American president being received in an official ceremony by Xi Jinping.

The two leaders exchanged a handshake in front of the Great Hall of the People, where major political events in China are held, including the annual sessions of the Chinese parliament and the country’s top advisory bodies.

Military Ceremony and National Anthems

During the welcoming ceremony, Trump and Xi stood in the center of the square while a military band performed the American national anthem, followed by the Chinese anthem.

The two presidents walked along a red carpet in front of rows of soldiers to the sound of ceremonial music.

Beside the red carpet stood children holding American and Chinese flags, as well as bouquets of flowers, cheering for the two leaders.

Trump greeted both the American and Chinese delegations of officials waiting for him in the square.

“The Entire World Is Watching Our Meeting”

In his opening remarks, Xi Jinping argued that the global situation is changing rapidly and that the international scene is marked by uncertainty and turmoil.

“The entire world is watching our meeting. At this moment, transformations unseen in a century are accelerating globally, and the international situation is fluid and turbulent,” the Chinese president said.

Xi directly raised the question of whether the two countries can avoid the so-called “Thucydides Trap,” a theory describing the danger of conflict between a rising power and an established one, inspired by the historical example of the war between Athens and Sparta in Ancient Greece.

“The world has reached a new crossroads. Can China and the United States overcome the Thucydides Trap and create a new model of relations?” he said.

The Chinese president also emphasized the need for cooperation between the two countries in addressing global challenges.

“Can we jointly confront global challenges and provide greater stability to the world? Can we, for the benefit of the world, our two peoples, and the future of humanity, build a brighter future for our bilateral relations?” he asked.

Concluding, Xi described these issues as “questions of vital importance for history, for the world, and for peoples,” adding that they are “the questions of our era” that the two leaders are called upon to answer.

Xi urged the two countries to choose cooperation over confrontation.

“We must be partners and not rivals, help each other succeed, prosper together, and shape a proper way for major powers to coexist in the new era,” the Chinese president said.

Trump: “I Have Great Respect for Xi and China”

For his part, Donald Trump spoke in especially warm terms about Xi Jinping and relations between the two countries.

The American president described their relationship as “fantastic” and stressed that he has “great respect” for the Chinese leader and for China. He also called Xi a “great leader.” Trump further stated that the American delegation was looking forward to discussions on mutual trade between the two countries.

In addition, the American president promised his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping a “wonderful future” in U.S.-China relations. “It is an honor to be with you. It is an honor to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the United States will become better than ever,” Trump said. “Together we will have a wonderful future,” the Republican added.

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping concluded their opening remarks at the Great Hall of the People and proceeded to bilateral closed-door talks, which lasted approximately two hours.

The American delegation includes government officials from the Trump administration as well as leading business executives. Among them are NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and Apple chief Tim Cook.

Trade, Technology, and Iran at the Center of Discussions

Today’s schedule includes a bilateral meeting between the two leaders, a cultural visit to the Temple of Heaven, and an official state dinner.

Trump and Xi are expected to discuss critical issues such as U.S.-China trade relations, technology restrictions, and the crisis involving Iran.

The two leaders last met in October on the sidelines of an international summit in South Korea, where they agreed on a trade deal.