Beijing’s state banquet for Donald Trump and Xi Jinping wasn’t just ceremonial—it was engineered as a diplomatic signal. Planners leaned on Huaiyang cuisine, a refined, mild style meant to be broadly appealing to international guests. The menu also reportedly adjusted details to match perceived preferences, including Beijing roast duck and beef ribs described as a nod to well-done steak. Desserts were heavily American, featuring tiramisu, fruits, ice cream, and a trumpet-shell shaped pastry for Trump. Food remains China’s long-used soft power.
Elon Musk arrives in China for a summit tied to US President Donald Trump and meets Xi Jinping amid a complicated mix of praise and backlash. Tesla’s tech leadership still inspires competitors as sales near 626,000 units, with China contributing about a fifth of revenue. Yet Musk also faces regulator and public criticism over customer complaints, while SpaceX’s Starlink alarms Beijing’s military planners. Musk must navigate intensifying domestic EV competition and China’s shifting security priorities.
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President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a “good meeting” in Washington focused on expanding market access for American businesses in China and encouraging Chinese investment in US industries. They also addressed global security, stressing that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to keep energy flowing freely, as discussions touched Iran-related concerns and regional stability.
After Meta’s Manus acquisition fallout, MiroMind founder Chen Tianqiao is restructuring his AI startup around strict firewalls between China and the US. The changes are meant to limit cross-border data flows and personnel movement amid regulatory scrutiny, effectively forcing a compromise as geopolitics tightens around tech and AI operations.
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