Trump concludes China visit and holds private meeting with Xi Jinping

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On Friday, US President Donald Trump ends his three-day visit to Beijing with a private meeting at President Xi Jinping's official residence before he departs for Washington.

As the clock chimed 11, Trump's motorcade reached Zhongnanhai, the Chinese central leadership compound next to the Forbidden City in Beijing. 

Its gardens will host Trump and Xi when they pose for an official photo marking Trump's trip, then head into a working tea.

The pair is set to have a closed-door lunch before Trump leaves to return to Washington on Friday afternoon.

Zhongnanhai, literally translated as "middle and southern seas," is synonymous with China's seat of power as the primary residence of President Xi Jinping and the headquarters of the central government.

China's top leaders reserve the highly secure grounds for only their closest allies and carefully selected dignitaries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was received at Zhongnanhai at least twice, in 2024 and 2025.

Xi also welcomed former U.S. President Barack Obama to Zhongnanhai in 2014. The two leaders took an evening stroll and had dinner.

During a series of meetings and events on Thursday, the pair discussed divisive issues such as the Iran war, trade, technology and Taiwan.

During those meetings, Trump said Xi told him China wants to help negotiate an end to the war and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil and Trump hopes Xi will use that leverage to prod Iran into a deal on U.S. terms. Trump also said Xi assured him that China wouldn't provide Iran with military equipment.

In a summit marked by fanfare and flattery, Xi warned Trump that differences over Taiwan, a self-governed island claimed by Beijing as its own territory, could bring the U.S. and China into clashes or conflict. Trump authorized an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, but has not moved forward with delivery. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned later on Thursday it would be "a terrible mistake" for China to take Taiwan by force.

Trump also focused on trade and deals for China to buy more agricultural products and passenger planes, setting up a board to address their differences and avoid a repeat of the trade war ignited last year after Trump's tariff hikes.