Trump laid out the carpet for Xi.

WASHINGTON — President Trump hosted Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday morning, the first visit by the Chinese leader in more than a decade. The New York Times live desk described a lawn full of pageantry: 479 U.S. military personnel, American and Chinese flags, at least four bands, and a B-2 stealth bomber overhead. Xi arrived at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday evening, met on the tarmac by the president and the first lady. The Times said no major network carried the opening live.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said late Wednesday that Washington and Beijing had extended a one-year trade truce by two months, to January 10. It had been due to expire on November 10. The Times reported that little else is expected to move: Taiwan, the artificial-intelligence race, and China’s support for Iran and for Russia’s war. Xi said the interests of the two countries are deeply intertwined, and that rejuvenation in China and “making America great again” can go hand in hand. He said China would send two pandas to the Atlanta zoo.

The decisions we make in these areas today can promote peace and prosperity for decades.

Trump called it a truly great friendship and said the decisions taken now could shape peace for decades. He listed security, technology, and what he called superintelligence. Xi, speaking after him, said the competition should be a healthy one, and that American companies are welcome in China. Reuters reported the remarks were in the grand foyer, then a military review and a flyover at the Rose Garden, Chinese flags on the Oval Office roof, then the closed meeting. A state dinner is set for Thursday evening. The Politics desk files the ceremony. The minerals, the war, and the Senate race are on their own pages.