"A heavily guarded leadership compound next to the Forbidden City is generally not used for diplomatic visits."
Diplomatic Exchange at Zhongnanhai
During a meeting at Zhongnanhai, US President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping whether he had brought other presidents and prime ministers to the compound.
Xi appeared to shake his head, but his full answer through a translator was not heard.
The Venue: A Rare Setting
Zhongnanhai is the heavily guarded leadership compound adjacent to the Forbidden City. It is generally not used for routine diplomatic visits, making any meeting there a significant gesture.
Only a handful of US leaders have visited:
- Richard Nixon – 1972 meeting with Mao Zedong
- George W. Bush – 2002 and 2008
- Barack Obama – 2014
Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Xi has called his closest friend, visited at least twice—in 2024 and 2025.
"Neither the full context of Xi's answer nor the exact nature of the exchange has been publicly clarified."