WEB DESK
President Donald Trump on Wednesday started his maiden visit to Beijing with both sides inking deals worth USD 9 billion as Xi Jinping gave an imperial touch to the trip by hosting him at the iconic Forbidden city, home for successive Chinese emperors since 1420.
In a highly-choreographed event, Trump and his wife Melania were received by Xi and his spouse Peng Liyuan at the Forbidden city and entertained at the imperial museum palace, housing China’s most treasured objects in its history spanning over thousands of years of Chinese culture.
Trump, who is here on a three-day visit, was given a red carpet welcome on his arrival at the airport.Ahead of his visit, Trump, the first world leader to visit China after Xi kicked off his second term as the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party.
Just as Xi entertained the Trumps in the vast empty imperial city, where the visitors were barred, US
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and China’s vice-premier in charge of economic issues Wang Yang signed 19 deals worth about USD nine billion to address Trump’s concerns of over the massive USD 360 billion trade deficit.
Official media quoted Wang as saying that this is only the beginning and there will be more tomorrow when Xi and Trump hold their officials talks.
The US has been accusing China of violating international rules and norms by laying claims on the disputed South and East China seas. China claims sovereignty on almost all of the South China Sea which is disputed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.