Xi shows Trump rare Beijing compound once visited by Putin
US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump visited the Zhongnanhai government complex in Beijing together with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his visit to China, where he was shown historic trees, Sky News reports.
Tour of the government complex
Xi Jinping gave Trump a tour of the former imperial garden, which is now part of the government complex housing offices of the Communist Party of China and the State Council.
Leaders viewed centuries-old trees, some of which, according to Xi, are more than 200–400 years old.
During the conversation, which was partially picked up by microphones, Trump expressed surprise at the age of the trees.
He asked whether they can really live that long, to which Xi confirmed and added that there are even thousand-year-old trees.
"Putin has been here"
During the conversation, Trump asked whether other world leaders had been received at this complex.
Xi Jinping replied that it happens "very rarely."
"At first, we usually didn't hold diplomatic events here. Even after we started having some, it's still extremely rare," he said.
Chinese leader added that among the few guests was Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had previously visited this site.
"For example, Putin has been here," Xi said.
After the tour, Xi Jinping suggested that Trump touch the 280-year-old tree.
The reaction of the American president was brief: "Good. I like it."
Trump's visit to China
US President Donald Trump was in China on a three-day state visit. This was the first trip by an American leader to Beijing at such a level in almost nine years.
The last time Trump visited China was in November 2017 during his first presidential term.
The American delegation also arrived in China together with the president. It included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, billionaire Elon Musk, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
During the meeting, Xi Jinping warned the American president about risks in case of a wrong approach to the Taiwan issue.
Also, during the meeting in Beijing, Trump and Xi agreed that Iran should never obtain nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
At present, the state visit has already ended. Donald Trump left Beijing and departed from the Chinese capital aboard a special presidential aircraft.
