Trump and Xi Jinping Meet in Beijing, Shake Hands at the Great Hall of the People

April 14, Kathmandu — U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are holding talks today at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Trump recently arrived at the venue and initiated the meeting by shaking hands with Xi Jinping. Xi descended the steps of the Great Hall to welcome Trump. According to various sources, Xi embraced Trump on the red carpet as a gesture of welcome. A Chinese military unit was also present to mark the occasion. The Great Hall of the People, located on the western side of Tiananmen Square, is a government building used for welcoming foreign leaders, including those from Nepal, and hosting other official events.

Today’s meeting at the Great Hall will feature extensive bilateral discussions between Trump and Xi. Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, where he was received by China’s Vice President Han Zheng. Afterwards, Trump rested at the Four Seasons Hotel. During the day, the two leaders are scheduled to hold talks, followed by a state banquet in the evening. Accompanying President Trump are numerous top CEOs from major U.S. tech companies, including Elon Musk, head of Tesla, and Jensen Huang of Nvidia.

As Trump’s motorcade arrived, the welcoming ceremony was filled with brass band music and spectators waving flags. Attendees greeted him with chants of “Welcome, welcome, a warm welcome.” Both American and Chinese flags were displayed, symbolizing unity ahead of the important two-day meeting. Vice President Han Zheng was present on the tarmac to welcome Trump after he disembarked from Air Force One. Han Zheng is one of China’s top leaders, and his presence signifies a high level of respect from Beijing towards Trump. During Trump’s 2017 visit, China had sent comparatively lower-ranking officials, including State Councilor Yang Jiechi. Han Zheng also participated in Trump’s inauguration ceremony last year.