Chinese President Xi Jinping warned his US counterpart Donald Trump that missteps on Taiwan could push their two countries into 'conflict', a stark opening salvo as the two leaders met in Beijing for a summit.

Trump arrived in China with accolades for his host, calling Xi a 'great leader' and 'friend' and extending an invitation for Xi to visit the White House in September. Beyond the pomp, Xi in less effusive tones said the two sides 'should be partners and not rivals' and highlighted the issue of Taiwan – which Beijing claims as its territory – straight off the bat.

'The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,' Xi said on Thursday, according to remarks published by Chinese state media. 'If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation.'

With Trump's approval ratings dented by a war with Iran that shows no signs of abating, the first visit by a US president to China in nearly a decade has taken on added significance as he searches for economic wins. Trump told Xi in brief opening remarks that 'this may be the biggest summit ever.'

Xi told Trump that preparatory negotiations between US and Chinese economic and trade teams in South Korea had reached 'balanced and positive outcomes.' Al Jazeera's Katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing, said the 'overall message from Beijing to the US is that China is willing to be flexible and accept a level of disagreement on various issues – Iran, trade or technology. But there is one issue China and President Xi cannot be flexible on. That is Taiwan.'

Source: www.aljazeera.com