Xi Jinping told Donald Trump on Thursday that Beijing and Washington must peacefully manage their superpower rivalry, as the US president gave his Chinese counterpart a lavish welcome to the White House.

While Trump hailed their "truly great friendship" on a day of sweeping pomp and circumstance, Xi used his state visit to lay down China's red lines on AI, Taiwan and the Iran war.

Behind the pageantry -- and symbolic gestures like Trump taking Xi inside his Marine One helicopter -- the talks were focused on tensions that continue to divide the world's two largest economies.

In his opening remarks with Trump, Xi said the two countries must ensure there is "no conflict and no confrontation between us."

Xi also warned that the development of artificial intelligence should be "always under human control" -- in contrast to Trump, who has repeatedly dismissed warnings that AI could threaten humanity itself.<...