Trump and Xi toast new chapter in friendship at White House state dinner

Image source, Bloomberg via Getty Images Image caption, Xi thanked his hosts for receiving him and his wife with "meticulous care and consideration"

US President Donald Trump welcomed China President Xi Jinping to the White House for a lavish state dinner where both leaders touted a new chapter in their friendship.

The dinner was attended by billionaire business leaders, Trump administration officials, US tech CEOs and others. Their arrival was marked, however, by protesters loudly shouting from just outside the White House gates, some of whom were arrested.

Both Trump and Xi praised one another, pledging to continue talks to ensure stability between their two nations. But experts say that not much concrete has been yielded in talks so far.

The dinner came on the second day of Xi's three-day trip to Washington.