Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have commenced their final round of talks on the second day of a landmark summit in Beijing, after which the US president will depart on Air Force One for the United States. The two leaders are meeting in the walled-off Zhongnanhai complex, the secretive Chinese leadership compound, for a tea session and lunch. This comes as Trump revealed little concrete information about his meeting with Xi in his first interview since Thursday's bilateral talks.
Trump Brands Meeting as 'G2 Summit'
In a rambling, hour-long sit-down with Fox News' Sean Hannity, the president discussed the possible sale of Boeing airplanes and soybeans to China, complimented his own bombing campaign in Iran, and unveiled a new nickname for Democrats. 'I think it's a very historic summit. It's the two great countries, I call it the G2,' he said. 'They have G7, they have the G8. This is the G2 and I think it'll go down as a very important moment in history, and maybe more than anything else, a great moment of respect.'
China Calls for Swift Resolution to Iran War
China's foreign ministry stated that Trump and Xi had reached a 'series of new consensuses' during their talks in Beijing and called for a swift resolution to the Iran war. Xi Jinping said he and Trump had achieved a 'new bilateral relationship' that was 'constructive' during their joint address, describing it as a 'milestone' in US-China ties.
Trump's Remarks on Xi and Trade
Trump remarked that Xi is 'very tall' and out of 'central casting' because Chinese 'tend to be a little bit shorter.' He also said they made 'fantastic trade deals' with China, including agreements for China to buy more American oil and farm products like soybeans. Trump claimed the trade talks went 'better than last time' and were 'much bigger' than the 36 deals signed previously.
Discussions on Iran
During closing remarks, Trump said they discussed trade, Iran, and 'a lot of other things.' He stated, 'We don't want them to have nuclear weapons' and 'we want the strait open.' He also thanked Xi, calling it an honour to be in Beijing, and mentioned that the two leaders would meet again on 24 September when Xi is due to visit the US.
Private Moment in Zhongnanhai
Trump and Xi reportedly spoke privately for about 10 minutes away from reporters before continuing their walk through the compound. 'These are the most beautiful roses anyone has ever seen,' Trump remarked. When asked if he was enjoying the visit, the US president responded with a thumbs up before a Chinese official told reporters: 'No questions.' Xi, speaking through a translator, explained the history of the compound and said he would send Trump rose seeds.
About Zhongnanhai
Zhongnanhai is a heavily guarded leadership compound in central Beijing, located just west of the Forbidden City. It has served as the main headquarters and residence complex for China's top Communist Party and state leaders, including Xi Jinping, since 1949. The compound is known for its quiet lakes, classical Chinese gardens, tree-lined pathways and traditional pavilions. Its name comes from two connected lakes, Zhonghai and Nanhai. Unlike the grand public spaces of the Great Hall of the People, Zhongnanhai is highly secretive and rarely seen by outsiders. Meetings held there often signal a more personal or informal level of diplomacy. Richard Nixon met Mao Zedong there in 1972, and former US president Barack Obama met Xi at Yingtai, an imperial-era site inside Zhongnanhai, during the 2014 summit.
