Trump personally greeted Xi at the airport, a gesture described as very rare between the two leaders. More than 100 people, mostly from U.S. Government and business circles, attended a state dinner held for Xi during the visit.
Despite the pageantry, the summit produced few real breakthroughs. The two sides agreed to extend a trade truce, but only for two months, far shorter than analysts had expected going into the meetings.
That short extension leaves businesses and markets watching two governments that have agreed, mostly, to keep talking rather than to settle much of anything. Trade relationships between the world's two largest economies stay in limbo, with tariffs and other friction points unresolved beyond the near term. One analysis after the summit called the diplomatic thaw between Washington and Beijing fragile.
For companies and industries tied to U.S.-China trade, the short truce means planning around continued uncertainty rather than a settled deal. The optics of the visit suggested warmth. The substance suggested otherwise.
Two months from now, the world will find out whether a red-carpet welcome in Washington bought real progress or just bought time.