Chinese President Xi Jinping gave US President Donald Trump a rare tour of Zhongnanhai, the heavily guarded political compound at the heart of China’s leadership, as the American leader concluded his two-day visit to Beijing.
The visit to Zhongnanhai — often described as China’s equivalent of the White House — marked one of the most symbolic moments of a summit dominated by ceremony and diplomatic gestures, though few concrete policy agreements were publicly announced.
Located near Tiananmen Square, Zhongnanhai has served as the headquarters of China’s Communist leadership since 1949 and remains one of the country’s most politically sensitive and exclusive sites.
During the tour, Xi guided Trump through the compound’s historic gardens and lakes, highlighting centuries-old trees and famous Chinese roses. Trump reportedly praised the gardens, calling the roses “the most beautiful” he had ever seen.
Xi later promised to send Trump seeds from the roses admired during the walk, prompting the US president to respond warmly, saying: “I love that, it’s great.”
Chinese state media portrayed the visit as a sign of closer ties between the two powers, with Xi describing the summit as the beginning of a “new bilateral relationship”.
The two leaders held discussions amid ongoing tensions over trade, Taiwan and the conflict involving Iran. However, both sides adopted a notably softer tone during the visit.
In an interview aired by Fox News, Trump described Xi as “warm” and “very smart” and suggested talks between the two countries had gone better than previous meetings.
Trump also claimed that China had agreed to purchase US oil, Boeing aircraft and American agricultural products, although China’s Foreign Ministry later avoided directly confirming those specific deals.
Iran reportedly emerged as a major topic during the summit. Trump said Xi had pledged not to provide military support to Tehran, while China reiterated that it was working diplomatically to reduce tensions and encourage negotiations.
China remains Iran’s largest trading partner and biggest buyer of Iranian oil, giving Beijing significant influence in the region.
Analysts say the summit reflects efforts by both Washington and Beijing to stabilise relations after years of disputes over tariffs, technology, security and geopolitical influence.
The symbolic visit to Zhongnanhai also underscored China’s growing diplomatic confidence as global leaders increasingly seek stronger economic ties with Beijing.
Trump ended the trip by inviting Xi to visit the White House in September for another round of talks, expressing optimism about future US-China relations.
“You’re gonna walk away hopefully very impressed, like I’m very impressed with China,” Trump said at the conclusion of the tour.