Trump and Xi begin final round of talks in Beijing after president brands meeting ‘the G2 summit’: Live updates
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have begun their final round of talks on day two of a landmark summit in Beijing, after which the US leader will depart on Air Force One for the US.
The two leaders are meeting in the walled-off Zhongnanhai complex, the secretive Chinese leadership compound, for a tea session and lunch.
It comes as Trump revealed little concrete information on his meeting with Xi in his first interview since Thursday’s bilateral talks between the leaders.
In a rambling, hour-long sit-down with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, the president discussed the possible sale of Boeing airplanes and soybeans to China, complimented is own bombing campaign in Iran, and unveiled a new nickname for Democrats.
“I think it's a very historic summit. It's the two great countries, I call it the G2,” he said as he rounded out the interview. “They have G7, they have the G8. This is the G2 and I think it'll go down as a very important moment in history, and maybe more than anything else, a great moment of respect.”
China’s foreign ministry said Trump and Xi had reached a “series of new consensuses” during their talks in Beijing and called for a swift resolution to the Iran war. Trump and Xi begin their lunch
Trump and Xi have begun their working lunch, the final event on the schedule before the US president returns to Washington.
Shweta Sharma15 May 2026 05:54In pictures: Trump and Xi tour garden in final day of talks
The final day of talks is still underway in China as Xi and Trump met at the Zhongnanhai compound.
Xi guides Trump during a visit to Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing (AFP/Getty)
Trump and Xi at Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on (AFP/Getty)
Trump reacts with a thumbs up as two leaders pose for a picture (AFP/Getty)
Trump and Xi sit down for talks (Getty)
Shweta Sharma15 May 2026 05:38
Shweta Sharma15 May 2026 05:30Xi says US and China have reached a 'new bilateral relationship'
Xi Jinping said he and Donald Trump had reached a “new bilateral relationship” that was “constructive” during the joint address.
He said they have reached a “milestone” in US-China ties.
Shweta Sharma15 May 2026 05:29Trump talks about Iran and thank Xi in closing remarks
Donald Trump said they talked about trade, Iran, and "a lot of other things" as the two leaders spoke in front of the press to deliver their closing remarks.
Trump said they "settled a lot of different problems that other people woudn't have been able to solve".Speaking about Iran, he said "we don't want them to have nuclear weapons", and "we want the strait open".
: U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet on the sidelines of a visit to Zhongnanhai Garden (Getty)
He also extended gratitude to Xi, saying it's an honour to be in Beijing.
He said the two leaders would meet again on 24 September, when Xi is due to visit the US, adding that he hoped Xi would be as impressed by America then as Trump said he was by China during this visit.
Shweta Sharma15 May 2026 05:19Trump and Xi deliver closing remarks
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping were seated alongside senior officials from both sides, including Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, US ambassador to China David Perdue and US trade representative Jamieson Greer.
Trump said the two countries had made “fantastic trade deals”.
Xi was accompanied by several top Chinese officials, including his chief of staff Cai Qi, foreign minister Wang Yi, Vice Premier He Lifeng and vice foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu.
Shweta Sharma15 May 2026 05:13Xi and Trump spoke privately for 10 minutes
Trump and Xi reportedly spoke privately for about 10 minutes away from reporters before continuing their walk through the Zhongnanhai compound.
“These are the most beautiful roses anyone has ever seen,” Trump remarked as they walked together.
When asked if he was enjoying the visit, the US president responded with a thumbs up before a Chinese official told reporters: “No questions.”
The two leaders then continued through a covered passageway decorated with painted archways depicting birds and traditional Chinese mountain landscapes.
Xi, speaking through a translator, explained the history of the compound and said he would send Trump rose seeds.
Shweta Sharma15 May 2026 05:10Here's what we know about Zhongnanhai
Zhongnanhai is a heavily guarded leadership compound in central Beijing, located just west of the Forbidden City. It has served as the main headquarters and residence complex for China’s top Communist Party and state leaders, including Xi Jinping, since 1949.
The compound is known for its quiet lakes, classical Chinese gardens, tree-lined pathways and traditional pavilions, giving it the appearance of an imperial-style retreat rather than a government office complex.
Much of it dates back to former imperial gardens used during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Its name comes from two connected lakes, Zhonghai and Nanhai.
Unlike the grand public spaces of the Great Hall of the People, Zhongnanhai is highly secretive and rarely seen by outsiders. Meetings held there are often meant to signal a more personal or informal level of diplomacy.
Richard Nixon met Mao Zedong there in 1972 and most recently, US former president Barack Obama met Xi at Yingtai, an imperial-era site inside Zhongnanhai, during the 2014 summit.
Then Chinese communist party leader Mao Zedong, left, and then US president Richard Nixon shake hands as they meet in Beijing on Feb. 21, 1972. (1972 AP)
Shweta Sharma15 May 2026 05:04More pictures from the state banquet
US president Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping attended a state banquet in Beijing on Thursday after a day of high-stakes talks.
Both leaders struck a warm and stable tone in their toasts. Xi called the US-China relationship the world’s “most consequential” and warned both sides must “never mess it up”.
Guests were served dishes including Beijing roast duck, crispy beef ribs, slow-cooked salmon in mustard sauce and pan-fried pork buns.
(AFP/Getty)
U.S. President Donald Trump, flanked by Chinese Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu, departs a state banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People (Getty)
(AFP/Getty)
CEO of Nvidia Jensen Huang and Meta President and Vice Chairman Dina Powell McCormick depart a state banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People (Getty)
Elon Musk viajó a China a pesar de que un juez le advirtió que podría ser llamado a comparecer nuevamente en un juicio relacionado con OpenAI. (Getty)
Shweta Sharma15 May 2026 05:00Trump says he made 'fantastic trade deals' with China
Donald Trump said he had made “fantastic trade deals” with China during his visit to Beijing.
Trump previously said China is "going to be buying a lot of our farm product", such as soybeans.
He said the trade talks went "better than last time", adding they were "much bigger" than the 36 deals they signed the last time.
He also claimed China agreed to buy more American oil.
Shweta Sharma15 May 2026 04:52
