Xi Jinping pushes Donald Trump to arrive at 'correct position' on Taiwan after Nato chief's warning

He urged Washington to "handle the Taiwan question with prudence to lay a solid foundation for bilateral strategic cooperation and the development of China-US ties", Chinese state media reported, adding that "China's position on safeguarding its national unity and territorial integrity is crystal clear".

The White House has not yet provided its own summary of the talks.

Mr Xi had been expected to press Mr Trump this week to cut off arms sales to Taiwan altogether.

After he visited China in May, the President said he would put a $14billion arms package to Taiwan on hold, calling it a "very good negotiating chip".

China claims Taiwan is its own territory - and has not ruled out using force to gain control over the island.

After Mr Xi arrived, Mr Trump touted the pair's "truly great friendship", and said the world's two largest economies had made strides on trade since his trip to China.

China's Xi Jinping urged Donald Trump to come around to the 'correct position' on Taiwan

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The pair then came together for a warm state dinner

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The Chinese premier even said the two countries' interests were deeply intertwined and that competition between them should be a "healthy one".

American firms were welcome in China, he said - though he added he hoped "Chinese companies are treated fairly here in the United States".

Mr Xi also said both the countries' militaries should stay in touch to improve "crisis prevention".

The meeting comes despite Nato chief Mark Rutte's warning just days ago that China could invade Taiwan - then force Russia to invade eastern Europe at the same time.

Mr Xi later hinted the duo reached 'common understanding on many issues'

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Speaking in Britain, Mr Rutte raised the alarm over a "two-theatre conflict".

"We need the US to be strong also in the Indo-Pacific," he said, "because if China moves against Taiwan or anywhere else in the first island chain in the Indo-Pacific... We have no doubt that China will force the Russians to move against us here."

Despite the threats, the two leaders struck a warm tone at a state dinner last night - with Mr Xi declaring the countries had a friendship "forged in blood and fire" during World War Two, when China battled imperial Japan before the US finished it off.

He said he and Mr Trump had in-depth discussions and reached "common understanding on many issues" which provided "new strategic guidance for China-US relations".

Outside the gate, a group of protesters shouted slogans like 'China out of Hong Kong' which could clearly be heard by the leaders inside

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Elon Musk and a host of other tech CEOs were present at the dinner

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"China and the United States must act as responsible major countries," he added, calling for "a new approach for major countries to get along with each other".

The two leaders and their wives attended the high-profile dinner, a black-tie affair which boasted tech CEOs including Elon Musk in its ranks.

Outside the gate, a group of protesters shouted slogans like "China out of Hong Kong" which could clearly be heard by the leaders inside.

In his own dinner toast, Mr Trump said he and Mr Xi "both understand we represent different systems but the ties between our people endure and we’ve never gotten along better."

Though the duo's remarks were not carried live by any US television networks, which refused to provide footage in protest of the White House's ban of "fake news" outlets CNN, MS Now and Politico - which were barred from covering the dinner despite having their access restored just hours earlier.