The Xi-Trump summit is over. What comes next in the US-China rivalry?

The recent conclusion of US President Donald Trump's state visit to Beijing marked a departure from tradition, as the final day featured intimate discussions between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping rather than a deal-signing ceremony. The two leaders met in the secluded Zhongnanhai compound, a setting unusual for diplomatic events. Both leaders assured each other that they would continue to meet this year. This summit's conclusion, characterized by private conversations and future meeting commitments, signals a shift in the US-China diplomatic approach.

President Xi Jinping hosted U.S. President Donald Trump for talks at Zhongnanhai, the secluded heart of Chinese power, on Friday morning. This rare glimpse inside the heavily guarded compound, which serves as Xi's official residence and the headquarters of China's top leadership, occurred during the final hours of Trump's two-day state visit to Beijing. Zhongnanhai, formerly an imperial garden, houses the offices of the ruling Communist Party and the State Council. The meeting involved tea and a working lunch, marking a significant moment of access to this normally inaccessible political sanctuary.

US President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing concluded with a tour of Zhongnanhai, the heavily guarded compound where top Chinese leaders reside and work, led by President Xi Jinping. This event, part of a two-day trip characterized by ceremony rather than detailed policy agreements, followed tensions over trade and the Iran war. Both leaders adopted a conciliatory tone, with Trump describing his visit as "incredible" and Xi calling it a "new bilateral relationship." The tour of Zhongnanhai, a rare honor for foreign dignitaries, underscored the significance of the meeting, with Xi noting that few other leaders, such as Russia's Vladimir Putin, have been granted such access.