Xi, Trump hold private Beijing meeting at Zhongnanhai before US visit concludes
Synopsis
Hours before Air Force One lifted off from Beijing, Xi Jinping walked Donald Trump through Zhongnanhai's gardens in a rare private meeting — no aides, no cameras, just two leaders signalling that the world's most consequential bilateral relationship is being managed with deliberate personal warmth. The optics were intentional; the agreements signed a day earlier now need implementation.
Key Takeaways
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump held a private meeting at Zhongnanhai , Beijing, on 15 May 2025 .
The meeting followed formal state talks the previous day and came hours before Trump departed China.
Xi called the visit 'historic and landmark' and said both sides had reached 'important common understandings' on trade, cooperation, and regional issues.
Trump called Xi an 'old friend,' said the visit was 'unforgettable,' and invited Xi to visit Washington, DC .
Wang Yi , China's Foreign Minister, saw Trump off at the airport as the state visit formally concluded.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump held a private meeting on Friday, 15 May at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in central Beijing, a day after the two leaders concluded formal state talks. The meeting came in the final hours of Trump's state visit to China, underscoring the personal dimension both sides are keen to cultivate alongside official diplomacy.
How the Meeting Unfolded
Upon Trump's arrival at Zhongnanhai, Xi warmly received him. The two leaders walked through the compound's garden, reportedly pausing to admire the trees and flowers — an informal setting that contrasted sharply with the structured protocol of the previous day's formal sessions. According to Xinhua, the state-run news agency, the atmosphere was notably relaxed.
What Xi Said
Xi described Trump's visit as 'historic and landmark,' saying the two sides had 'set a new vision of building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability.' He said both nations had reached 'important common understandings on maintaining stable economic and trade ties, expanding practical cooperation in various fields, and properly addressing each other's concerns.' Xi also stressed that the two countries had agreed to strengthen communication on international and regional issues. 'While President Trump hopes to make America great again, I am dedicated to leading the Chinese people toward national rejuvenation,' Xi said, adding that strengthened cooperation could advance both nations' development simultaneously.
What Trump Said
Trump said he was 'very grateful' to Xi for the invitation to Zhongnanhai and called the overall China visit 'very successful, unforgettable, and one that captured the world's attention.' He noted that the two sides had 'reached a series of important common understandings, signed a number of agreements, and resolved many problems' — outcomes he described as beneficial to both countries and the wider world. Referring to Xi as 'an old friend,' Trump said the US-China relationship 'will definitely get better' and extended a warm invitation for Xi to visit Washington, DC.
Departure and Protocol
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and China's Minister of Foreign Affairs, saw Trump off at the airport on Friday afternoon. Trump departed Beijing, formally concluding his state visit to China. The two sides also reportedly exchanged views on unspecified regional hotspot issues during the private session, though no details were disclosed.
Significance and What Comes Next
The Zhongnanhai walkabout follows a pattern both leaders have used before — informal settings to signal personal warmth while formal communiqués do the heavier diplomatic lifting. This is the first state visit by a sitting US president to China in several years, and both sides appear invested in projecting a stabilisation narrative. Whether the 'common understandings' translate into durable policy shifts — particularly on trade and regional security — will be the real measure of the visit's legacy. Implementation of the agreements signed during the visit is expected to be the immediate focus of bilateral diplomatic channels.
Point of View
But theatre with a purpose. Both leaders are projecting personal chemistry as a stabilising force precisely because institutional trust between Washington and Beijing remains thin. The language of 'common understandings' is deliberately vague — it signals progress without committing either side to specifics that domestic audiences might contest. What the visit has not resolved is any of the structural tensions: technology export controls, Taiwan, South China Sea posture. The real test of whether this visit was historic or merely ceremonial will come in the months of implementation — or non-implementation — that follow.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Xi Jinping and Donald Trump hold their private meeting?
The private meeting took place at Zhongnanhai , the leadership compound in central Beijing, on 15 May 2025. It was separate from the formal state talks held the previous day.
What did Xi Jinping say at the private meeting?
Xi described Trump's visit as 'historic and landmark' and said both sides had reached 'important common understandings' on stable economic and trade ties, practical cooperation, and properly addressing each other's concerns. He also stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.
What did Donald Trump say about his China visit?
Trump called the visit 'very successful' and 'unforgettable,' saying both sides had signed agreements and resolved many problems beneficial to both countries. He referred to Xi as an 'old friend' and invited him to visit Washington, DC.
Who saw Trump off at the airport after the China visit?
Wang Yi, China's Minister of Foreign Affairs and a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, saw Trump off at the airport on Friday afternoon as the state visit concluded.
What is the significance of the Zhongnanhai meeting?
Zhongnanhai is China's most sensitive political compound, home to the country's top leadership. Hosting a foreign head of state there for an informal walkabout is a significant gesture of personal trust and signals that Beijing is investing in the personal dimension of the US-China relationship alongside formal diplomacy.
