President Xi hosts Trump at Zhongnanhai

President Xi Jinping hosted his US counterpart, Donald Trump, in the central leadership compound of Zhongnanhai in Beijing on Friday for a second and final day of talks, with the American president hoping to secure trade wins. Xi led Trump on a short walk on the grounds that went through a covered passageway with green columns and archways painted with birds and traditional Chinese mountain scenes. They then gathered in an ornate pavilion with top aides for talks over tea. The two are also expected to have a working lunch before Trump departs for Washington. Zhongnanhai is often compared to the White House, the Kremlin or South Korea’s Blue House. But unlike the other presidential residences, Zhongnanhai does not serve as the main venue for diplomatic visits. “I think he’s a warm person, actually. But he’s all business,” Trump said of Xi in a Fox News interview. “There’s no games.” But the US leader said "a lot of good" has come out of the visit. "We've made some fantastic trade deals, great for both countries," he said. In an interview with Fox News after the first day of the summit wrapped up, Trump said China had agreed to order 200 Boeing jets, its first purchase of US-made commercial jets in nearly a decade. Trump added the talks in Beijing had gone well and that Xi had agreed to several US wishlist points. On the Iran war, the US President said Xi had assured him that China was not preparing to militarily aid Tehran, which has essentially closed the Strait of Hormuz. "He said he's not going to give military equipment... he said that strongly," Trump told Fox. "He'd like to see the Hormuz Strait open, and said 'if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help,'" he added. Asked whether the two leaders had discussed Iran, the Foreign Ministry on Friday released a statement calling for "a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire". "Shipping lanes should be reopened as soon as possible in response to the calls of the international community," it added. (Agencies) Edited by Priscilla Ng