Xi warns Taiwan could trigger conflict as Trump meets China amid trade, Iran talks

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump paid his first visit to China in nine years. It had attracted much of the world's attention. But it ended in an anticlimactic way, being loud in pageantry style but hollow in policy substance. The outcome of the visit can be summarized as two no's: no breakthrough and no surprises. It signaled a pause in the strategic competition between the U.S. and China. This strategic pause brought about some cooling-off in bilateral tensions, but also stirring anxiety regionally among U.S. allies and partners. First and foremost, no meaningful breakthrough in any of the major pending issues has been made. Basically, the two sides agreed to disagree except on one thing: to keep talking. The only meaningful agreed outcome was Chinese President Xi Jinping's return visit to the U.S. this September. On every substantive issue at hand, both sides disagreed even on what they agreed. The statements each side issued during and after the visit revealed wide gaps, ranging from the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, bilateral trade and investment, as well as Taiwan. Unlike the fi

Following US President Donald Trump's visit to China, the White House has announced that China has agreed to buy atleast USD 17 billion worth of agricultural products annually across three years, as US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached a consensus on several major issues, aimed at strengthening global stability as well as expanding trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. "China will purchase at least USD 17 billion per year of US agricultural products in 2026 (prorated), 2027, and 2028, in addition to the soybean purchase commitments that it made in October 2025. China restored market access for US beef by renewing expired listings of more than 400 US beef facilities and adding new listings. China will work with US regulators to lift all suspensions of US beef facilities. China resumed imports of poultry from US states determined by the USDA to be free of highly pathogenic avian influenza," the White House said. Both leaders agreed that the United States and China should build a "constructive relationship of strategic stability" based on fairness and reciprocity, the White House said. The release also stated that President Trump will host President Xi in Washington later this year, while both countries will support each other as hosts of the G20 and APEC summits scheduled later in 2026. "This week, during the first visit of a US President to the People's Republic of China since 2017, President Donald J. Trump reached consensus with President Xi Jinping on several issues that will enhance stability and confidence for businesses and consumers around the world. President Trump and President Xi agreed that the United States and China should build a constructive relationship of strategic stability on the basis of fairness and reciprocity. President Trump will welcome President Xi for a visit to Washington this fall. The two countries will support each other as the respective hosts of the G20 and APEC Summits later this year," the official release from the White House said. The White House further said that both leaders agreed that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons and called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while asserting that no country or organisation should be allowed to impose tolls in the region. Trump and Xi also reaffirmed their shared commitment to the denuclearisation of North Korea. "Both leaders agreed Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, called to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and agreed that no country or organisation can be allowed to charge tolls. President Trump and President Xi confirmed their shared goal to denuclearise North Korea," the release added. The release added that the two leaders also agreed to establish two new institutions to strengthen bilateral economic engagement -- the US-China Board of Trade and the US-China Board of Investment. According to the release, the Board of Trade will allow both governments to manage bilateral trade involving non-sensitive goods, while the Board of Investment will provide a government-to-government platform for discussions related to investment issues. "As the cornerstone of this historic agreement, President Trump and President Xi chartered two new institutions to optimize the bilateral economic relationship: the US-China Board of Trade and the US-China Board of Investment. The Board of Trade will allow the United States Government and the Government of China to manage bilateral trade across non-sensitive goods. The Board of Investment will provide a government-to-government forum for discussing investment-related issues," the press release said. The White House also said that President Trump secured a broad package of commitments intended to support American jobs, industries and exports. China, according to the release, agreed to address US concerns regarding supply chain shortages linked to rare earths and critical minerals, including yttrium, scandium, neodymium and indium. China will also address restrictions related to the sale of rare earth production and processing equipment and technologies. "President Trump negotiated a sweeping package of commitments that will drive high-paying American jobs and open new markets for US goods. China will address US concerns regarding supply chain shortages related to rare earths and other critical minerals, including yttrium, scandium, neodymium, and indium. China will also address US concerns regarding prohibitions or restrictions on the sale of rare earth production and processing equipment and technologies," said the press release. The release further stated that China approved an initial purchase of 200 American-made Boeing aircraft for Chinese airlines, marking China's first such commitment to purchase Boeing planes since 2017. The release said, "China approved an initial purchase of 200 American-made Boeing aircraft for Chinese airlines. This tranche of aircraft - China's first commitment to purchase American-made Boeing aircraft since 2017 - will drive high-paying, high-skilled US manufacturing jobs and enable the Chinese people to fly on American-made planes for decades to come."

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing ended without the major breakthrough many had expected from his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The summit instead highlighted the widening strategic gap between the two powers. Both sides projected warmth and stability during the two-day visit. But the meetings showed how difficult it has become to turn high-level engagements into meaningful cooperation on major issues such as Iran, Taiwan, and technology. Ahead of the talks, analysts had already warned that expectations of a reset were unrealistic. They argued that US–China ties had entered a more transactional phase, where both sides focus on leverage rather than compromise. The outcome appeared to support that view. Iran emerged as one of the most immediate and visible points of discussion. Reports in US media suggested that Washington hoped Beijing would use its significant economic leverage over Tehran to encourage de-escalation. Given China’s position as one of Iran’s largest oil buyers and a key economic partner, the US expected Beijing to exert indirect pressure on Tehran to moderate its stance, thereby helping to reduce risks in a region already marked by instability. However, Chinese responses remained deliberately cautious and non-committal. Official statements issued after the talks included only general calls for restraint, ceasefire, and regional stability, without any indication that Beijing intended to apply pressure on Tehran or adjust its economic engagement. The absence of concrete commitments underscored the limits of US expectations regarding China’s willingness to align with Washington on Middle Eastern security concerns. Speaking after returning from Beijing, Trump stated that he was “not asking for any favours”, while suggesting that China would “automatically” pressure Iran. However, he did not provide any explanation of how such pressure would materialise or what mechanisms might drive it. His remarks appeared to rely more on assumption than on negotiated agreement, reflecting the broader ambiguity surrounding the Iran discussions. Adding further complexity, Trump later suggested he was considering easing sanctions on Chinese companies that purchase Iranian oil. In an interview with Fox News, he also claimed that Xi had assured him China would not supply Iran with military equipment. At the same time, Trump noted Xi’s emphasis on maintaining China’s access to Iranian oil and the importance of reopening maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. These statements, while significant in tone, were not accompanied by any formal agreement or jointly issued framework. China’s foreign ministry, for its part, reiterated its longstanding position that a ceasefire in Iran was necessary and stressed the importance of ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open “as soon as possible”. Yet again, these remarks reflected continuity rather than policy change, reinforcing the impression that the summit did not alter Beijing’s strategic posture in the region. Taiwan remained the most sensitive and structurally entrenched issue on the agenda. Xi warned that mishandling the Taiwan question could push bilateral relations into a “dangerous place”, reaffirming Beijing’s long-standing position that Taiwan constitutes a core national interest. His remarks reflected China’s view that the issue is central to its sovereignty and cannot be subject to compromise in the same way as economic or diplomatic disputes. On the American side, officials reiterated that the US policy toward Taiwan remained unchanged. Marco Rubio emphasised that Washington continues to oppose any use of force and warned that military escalation would represent a “terrible mistake.” Despite this rhetorical firmness, uncertainty persisted due to Trump’s ambiguous stance on a proposed arms package for Taiwan. By declining to confirm whether such support would proceed, he introduced additional unpredictability into an already fragile strategic balance. Beyond Iran and Taiwan, the summit did little to advance cooperation in trade or technology, despite public references to “fantastic trade deals” and resolve issues. No formal agreements were announced, and there was no indication of breakthroughs on longstanding disputes involving tariffs, supply chains, or technology restrictions. The lack of concrete deliverables stood in contrast to the optimistic language used by both leaders during and after their meetings. President Xi attempted to frame the broader relationship in historical and ideological terms, suggesting that China’s “great rejuvenation” and the concept of making America great again could proceed in parallel. This rhetorical framing was intended to signal compatibility rather than confrontation. However, in practice, it did little to bridge the widening gap between the two countries’ strategic priorities. What emerged most clearly from the summit was the growing disjunction between diplomatic style and strategic substance. On the surface, both sides continue to value high-level engagement as a tool for signaling stability and preventing escalation. Behind the scenes, however, the scope for compromise appears increasingly limited. Each side remains committed to core interests that are fundamentally incompatible in key areas, particularly regarding Taiwan and regional influence. The broader implication of the summit is not that diplomacy has broken down entirely, but that its function has changed. Rather than producing significant agreements, summit meetings now serve primarily to manage expectations, reduce immediate tensions, and maintain channels of communication in an increasingly competitive environment.

US And China Agree To Establish Trade And Investment Boards As Trump-Xi Summit Delivers Modest Wins U.S. and Chinese leaders agreed to establish a new "Board of Trade" and a parallel "Board of Investment" during President Donald Trump’s two-day visit to Beijing - a summit that ended much as it began: with significant pageantry, warm personal rapport between the leaders, and modest, incremental progress on trade. The new boards aim to oversee bilateral purchases, manage trade differences, facilitate deals in non-sensitive sectors (with roughly $30 billion in goods identified), and provide a standing channel to prevent future escalations without constant high-level intervention. President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Alex Wong/Getty Images The boards were a pre-summit priority pushed by U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. They build on preparatory talks in South Korea that produced what both sides described as "generally balanced and positive outcomes." Chinese state media, including Xinhua, highlighted the agreements as part of efforts to expand practical cooperation and maintain stable economic ties. This development aligns with Xi Jinping’s broader push to reframe the bilateral relationship as one of "constructive strategic stability" - a new guiding vision intended to provide predictability for the next three years and beyond, emphasizing cooperation as the mainstay while allowing for "moderate competition" and "manageable differences." Xi described it as a positive, sound, constant, and enduring stability that should translate into concrete actions. Trade and Economic Deliverables Boeing Aircraft: China committed to purchasing 200 Boeing jets, with Trump indicating the order could potentially grow to 750 based on performance. This was the most visible commercial headline, though it fell short of earlier speculation around larger volumes and drew a muted market reaction. Agriculture and Energy: Progress on expanded U.S. farm product sales (soybeans, beef, and other goods, with reports of commitments up to $10–50 billion in some readouts) and potential energy deals. Xi told accompanying U.S. CEOs that "China’s door will only open wider" to American businesses, signaling greater market access in mutually beneficial areas. Investment Outlook: Discussions included pathways for Chinese investment into non-sensitive U.S. sectors, with the Board of Investment intended to provide clearer guidelines and reduce uncertainty from national security reviews. Trump touted "fantastic trade deals" upon departure, while Xi emphasized win-win outcomes and the importance of sustaining momentum in economic ties. And hey, America apparently needs 500,000 Chinese students in the US, and China should be able to purchase US farmland so that collages and farm prices don't collapse, or something.  NOW - Trump says it's good to have 500,000 foreign Chinese students in the U.S. and for China to purchase U.S. farmland; otherwise, colleges and farm prices would collapse: "I frankly think that it's good that people come from other countries and they learn our culture." pic.twitter.com/3vQDXpjchz — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) May 15, 2026 Areas Without Breakthroughs Despite the institutional progress, several high-priority issues saw limited or no resolution: Nvidia H200 AI Chips: No major summit agreement on advanced AI chip exports. While some U.S. licensing approvals for sales to select Chinese firms occurred around the visit (with Jensen Huang joining the delegation), export controls remained a sticking point and were not centrally resolved in leader-level talks. Rare Earths: No announced extension of the existing truce or easing of Chinese export controls, which continue to affect U.S. chipmakers and aerospace firms. This remains a lingering vulnerability from prior tariff exchanges. Iran Conflict: Both leaders expressed a shared desire for stability and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with Xi showing interest in greater U.S. oil purchases to reduce Middle East dependence. However, China offered no concrete commitments to leverage its influence with Tehran. Beijing’s foreign ministry reiterated support for peace efforts without pledging active intervention. Taiwan And Competing Narratives Competing narratives quickly emerged from the summit - highlighting the persistent gap in how Washington and Beijing frame their relationship. Chinese state media, including Xinhua, emphasized Taiwan as "the most important issue" in bilateral ties, with Xi warning Trump that mishandling it could lead to confrontation or even conflict while reiterating opposition to “Taiwan independence.” (U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reaffirmed that American policy on Taiwan remains unchanged.) In contrast, the White House readout and Trump’s public comments focused heavily on international issues such as Iran, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, global energy security, and economic cooperation - including Xi’s reported interest in buying more U.S. oil to reduce Middle East dependence, fentanyl precursor controls, and increased agricultural purchases. Trump described the relationship as one that is “going to be better than ever before,” while Xi suggested that "cooperation benefits both, while conflict hurts both." Analysts noted that Beijing’s spotlight on Taiwan may serve to shape domestic and international perception and divert attention from other sensitive topics like trade imbalances, nuclear issues, and Iran. Meanwhile, the strong U.S. business delegation - including NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang - underscored Washington’s priority of securing concrete commercial wins. These divergent readouts reflect each side’s strategic messaging priorities: China seeking to reinforce red lines and stability on its terms, and the U.S. highlighting transactional progress and geopolitical alignment. As Rabobank notes; While markets kept a watchful eye on any headlines about the war in Iran, palates were left dry as only tepid announcements dripped out, such as that China “offered help” on Iran and “pledged not to send weapons.” What they did not manage to evade was a conversation about Taiwan. During the two and a half hour conversation with Trump, Xi underscored that US intervention in Taiwan could trigger a “highly dangerous situation.” While Rubio underscored that the topic of American arms sales to Taiwan wasn’t a major focus of discussion, it likely will be when Congress’ approved USD 14bn arms sale to Taiwan lands on Trump’s desk, and again when Xi visits the White House in September. * * * Overall Assessment: The summit went a long way in stabilizing ties through new dialogue mechanisms and modest commercial wins rather than grand bargains. Trump returned with a few modest wins he can highlight domestically ahead of midterms - though the whole 'Chinese students and farms' might be a tough pitch to MAGA, while Xi secured a narrative of strategic predictability and time for China to address its economic challenges. Underlying rivalries in technology, supply chains, Taiwan, and global influence persist, but the relationship now has a more structured channel for management. Future progress is likely to remain incremental and transactional, with the newly agreed boards playing a central role in testing whether this stability proves durable. Tyler Durden Fri, 05/15/2026 - 10:45

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up critical talks on Friday, claiming important progress in stabilizing U.S.-China relations even as deep differences persist between the world’s two biggest powers on Iran, Taiwan and more.Following the trip, Trump said he had not yet made a determination on whether a major U.S. sale of arms to Taiwan can move forward. Speaking to reporters as he flew back on Air Force One, Trump said he’d not decided on the sale, but he added, “I will make a determination.”Trump’s Republican administration has authorized the sale but it has yet to move forward. China opposes the deal and has suggested that Washington’s relationship with the self-governing island is the key factor in China-U.S. relations.Trump said Xi told him that he was opposed to Taiwan’s independence. “I heard him out,” Trump said. “I didn’t make a comment.”Trump also said he raised a potential three-way nuclear deal among the U.S., Russia and China. He wants each of the three countries to sign a pact that would cap the number of nuclear warheads in its arsenal. China has previously been cool to entering such a pact.Beijing’s arsenal, according to Pentagon estimates, exceeds more than 600 operational nuclear warheads and is far from parity with the U.S. and Russia, which each are estimated to have more than 5,000 nuclear warheads. But Trump suggested Xi was receptive to the idea.“I got a very a positive response,” Trump said. “This is the beginning.”The last nuclear arms pact, known as the New START treaty, between Russia and the United States expired in February, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century. As the treaty was set to expire, Trump rejected a call by Russia to extend the two-country deal for another year and called for “a new, improved, and modernized” deal that includes China.The Pentagon estimates China will have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030.Xi welcomed Trump at his official residence, Zhongnanhai, on Friday for their final engagement of the summit before the U.S. leader’s return to Washington. The leaders took a short walk through the grounds that feature ancient trees and Chinese roses, and they strolled through a covered passageway with green columns and archways painted with birds and traditional Chinese mountain scenes.Over tea and lunch, Trump and Xi — with top aides and translators in tow — huddled for nearly three hours of talks before the U.S. leader completed his three-day visit to China.“It’s been really a great couple of days,” Trump told reporters.Xi, for his part, called it a “milestone” visit. “We have established a new bilateral relationship, or rather a constructive, strategic, stable relationship,” he said.But the optimistic outlook collides with some difficult truths about the thorniest issues between the two superpowers.Beijing has shown little public interest in U.S. entreaties to get more involved in solving the conflict in Iran, even though Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Xi had in their conversations offered to help. In recent weeks, the U.S. State Department has accused Chinese firms of providing satellite imagery to the Iranian government and the Treasury Department has moved to target Chinese oil refineries accused of buying oil from Tehran, as well as shippers of the oil.And the White House believes China can still do more to stem the flow of Chinese-made precursor chemicals into Mexico used to make illicit fentanyl that has wreaked havoc on many U.S. communities.Xi, meanwhile, warned Trump during private talks that their differences on the self-ruled island of Taiwan, if handled poorly, could hurtle the world’s dominant powers toward “clashes and even conflicts,” according to Chinese government officials.Trump appeared impressed by the bucolic grounds, remarking the roses were the most beautiful he had ever seen. Xi promised to send him some rose seeds.The compound is wrapped around two artificial lakes that had been built for the pleasure of emperors. Zhongnanhai is often compared to the White House, the Kremlin or South Korea’s Blue House. But unlike the other presidential residences, Zhongnanhai does not serve as the main venue for diplomatic visits. The invitation appeared to be an attempt by Xi to extend a personal touch to a U.S. leader who appreciates big gestures.“I think he’s a warm person, actually. But he’s all business,” Trump said of Xi in the Fox News interview. “There’s no games.”The Chinese government also bid farewell to Trump with great pomp.Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi saw a smiling Trump off at the airport. And schoolchildren dressed in Air Force One’s light blue and white colors waved American and Chinese flags in a coordinated movement as the U.S. president arrived to board the plane. Taiwan remains the most important issue for China Xi’s sharp language on Taiwan loomed large over the visit, with Chinese government officials amplifying that differences on the self-ruled island pose the biggest risk to U.S.-Chinese relations.But Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News that U.S. policy toward Taiwan was “unchanged” and cautioned that it would be “a terrible mistake” for China to try to take Taiwan by force. He also framed Xi’s comments as standard practice.“They always raise it on their side. We always make clear our position, and we move on to the other topics,” said Rubio, who was among senior aides to join Trump for the talks.China in recent weeks has sought to put more focus on its view that Taiwan sits at the “core” of its interests and is key to ensuring a stable relationship with the U.S. Trump at moments has shown ambivalence toward Taiwan, raising speculation that he could be open to loosening ties with Taipei.Trump has demanded Taiwan increase defense spending, and in December, the White House announced an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan, the largest ever to the island democracy.But the U.S. has yet to begin fulfilling the arms sales, and Trump had said he expected to discuss the matter with Xi in Beijing. He’s also groused that Taiwan “stole” America’s semiconductor business and called on Taiwan to pay the U.S. for protection. China wants the Strait of Hormuz opened The leaders agreed that the Strait of Hormuz — effectively closed since the start of the Iran conflict — needs to be reopened to support global energy demands About 20% of the world’s oil flowed through the strait before the war started on Feb. 28.“We feel very similar about (how) we want it to end,” the president said with Xi at this side. “We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon.”White House officials say Xi was also opposed to any implementation of tolls on vessels crossing the strait and expressed interest in China potentially purchasing U.S. oil to reduce Chinese dependence on Gulf oil in the future.Trump earlier this week had downplayed the importance of talks with Xi on the 11-week-old Iran war that has led to surging energy prices and threatens to plunge the global economy into recession if the conflict does not conclude soon. Will Trump announce any major business deals? The White House, ahead of the visit, insisted that Trump wouldn’t be making the trip without an eye toward securing results before he leaves, suggesting there could be announcements coming on trade.Trump says some “fantastic trade deals” had been struck during the visit, but did not offer further details.The U.S. side had been hoping to nail down Chinese commitments to buy U.S. soybeans and beef. Trump told Fox News that Xi had indicated a commitment for China to buy 200 Boeing jets from the U.S. Mistreanu reported from Bangkok. Associated Press writers Huizhong Wu in Bangkok, Darlene Superville and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report. —Aamer Madhani, Will Weissert and Simina Mistreanu, Associated Press

US President Donald Trump’s summit with China’s leader Xi Jinping in Beijing this week was the latest in decades of high-level diplomatic encounters between the two countries marked by drama, tension and surprising breakthroughs. Here are some of the most notable visits by US presidents to China: Cold War summit The US cut ties with China when the Communist Party (CCP) took over the country in 1949. Over two decades later, in February 1972, then-US president Richard Nixon flew to China to break the ice. Nixon met with Chairman Mao Zedong as well as premier Zhou Enlai, with whom he famously raised glasses of the fiery Chinese spirit baijiu. At a banquet in the Great Hall of the People, Nixon declared “there is no reason for us to be enemies”. A secret visit by national security adviser Henry Kissinger the year before laid the groundwork for the presidential trip, alongside reciprocal visits of table tennis teams termed “ping-pong diplomacy”. Nixon’s visit kicked off formal contacts that led to full diplomatic ties in January 1979. The landmark trip is widely seen as a catalyst for China’s emergence from decades of isolation. Ill-fated barbecue George H W Bush’s February 1989 visit was overshadowed by growing calls for democratic reform in China that would culminate in massive protests and a bloody crackdown later that year. A Texas-style barbecue hosted by Bush at a Beijing hotel during his visit sparked a small diplomatic crisis after the Chinese government objected to the inclusion of astrophysicist and dissident Fang Lizhi on the guest list. Officials attempted to block Fang multiple times on his way to the banquet. Bush later expressed regret to the Chinese over the incident. In June that year, Fang played a key role in the pro-democracy Tiananmen protests that were violently crushed by the Chinese government. Televised debate Bill Clinton’s nine-day tour of China in 1998 marked a thaw in relations after the US slapped sanctions on Beijing in the aftermath of the 1989 protests. The visit’s highlight was a surprise decision by Chinese President Jiang Zemin to allow a live broadcast of a press conference with Clinton. In an extraordinary scene, the two presidents sparred on national television about the usually off-limits subjects of human rights and the Tiananmen crackdown. “I did not anticipate being able to have that sort of open, sweeping communication with the Chinese people,” Clinton said at the time. Olympics opening George W Bush attended the spectacular opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a highly symbolic display of ambition by an ascendant China. Bush trod a delicate diplomatic line during his August 2008 trip, as human rights groups called for a tough stance on China’s rule of Tibet, arrests of dissidents and Internet censorship. The president made subdued calls for greater freedom of expression and religion while in China. “We’ve emphasised that being a global economic leader carries with it the duty to act responsibly on matters from energy to the environment to development in Africa,” Bush said at the time. Tarmac tension Barack Obama’s last visit to China as president threw a spotlight on the country’s growing assertiveness and mounting rivalry with Washington. Obama made an awkward landing in September 2016 when there was no staircase provided for Air Force One at Hangzhou airport. He was forced to use the plane’s own staircase, only to step out onto the tarmac rather than a red carpet, prompting speculation of a snub. The president later played down the moment, as well as an exchange where a Chinese official shouted at a White House staffer: “This is our country! This is our airport!” Xi and Obama discussed Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea during the visit, an issue that has continued to set the region on edge. Trump 1.0 In contrast, Trump was given “state visit plus” treatment when he arrived in Beijing during his first term in November 2017. The bitter trade war Trump launched in 2018 was still months away, and the US leader enjoyed a Chinese opera performance and a private tour of Beijing’s Forbidden City with Xi. Trump showed Xi videos of his granddaughter singing in Mandarin and reciting classical Chinese poetry, to which Xi responded that the girl deserved an “A+”. Trump’s second state visit, which wrapped up Friday, was far more subdued. The US president had said he expected a “big hug” from Xi, but the Chinese leader stopped short of reciprocating Trump’s heavy praise for his “friend”. Still, Trump said “a lot of good” had come out of the meetings, after a walk with Xi among the rosebushes in central leadership compound Zhongnanhai. Xi promised to send Trump some seeds for the White House rose garden.