U.S. President Donald Trump met face-to-face with China's leader Xi Jinping on Thursday, in a chance for the leaders of the world's two largest economies to stabilize relations after months of turmoil over trade issues.

Trump's aggressive use of tariffs since returning to the White House for a second term combined with China's retaliatory limits on exports of rare earth elements have given the meeting newfound urgency.

There is a mutual recognition that neither side wants to risk blowing up the world economy in ways that could jeopardize their own country's fortunes.

When the two were seated, Xi read prepared remarks that stressed a willingness to work together despite differences.

“Given our different national conditions, we do not always see eye to eye with each other,” he said through a translator.

“It is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have frictions now and then.”

The meeting lasted a little over 100 minutes, with the two leaders shaking hands and Trump appearing to say something into Xi’s ear, just before the Chinese leader entered his own limousine.

Trump was shortly back aboard Air Force One to return to Washington.