For all the brinkmanship, for all the high stakes and attempts to wield maximum leverage, in the end, there was clear recognition from both the US and China that a degree of stabilisation was necessary.

The fact that some progress has been made on a relatively wide range of issues speaks to that.

But there are real questions about how deep that progress runs and how easily, in the hands of two leaders who staked both their reputations on being strong and unyielding, it could all come crashing down.

Follow the latest: Trump teases 'large-scale' energy deal

From the very outset, the differences in style could not have been more stark.

As the two posed for the introductory handshake, Donald Trump moved quickly to dominate the space - leaning in, doing all the talking, even quipping

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