Xi Hosted Trump Inside China’s Secluded Seat of Power

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Donald Trump inside the tightly guarded Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing, offering a rare glimpse into the seat of Chinese leadership during their summit talks on trade, Taiwan and Iran.

Zhongnanhai, a former imperial garden next to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, now serves as the headquarters of both the Communist Party and the Chinese government. The heavily secured complex is rarely accessible to foreign leaders.

During a walk through the grounds, Xi drew Trump’s attention to the centuries-old trees in the gardens. Speaking through an interpreter, he noted that many of them were between 200 and 300 years old, with some exceeding 400 years.

The exchange underlined the symbolic weight Beijing attached to the meeting, staging the talks in one of the most secluded and politically charged sites in China.

(reuters, bak)