Donald Trump in China for talks on North Korea and trade

China’s trade surplus with the United States eased slightly in October but still remains elevated, official data showed November 8, as U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing for what are expected to be thorny economic talks.

Children waved US and Chinese flags and jumped wildly.

Chinese troops from all the three services presented a guard of honour with a 21-gun salute. At one point, Trump started clapping for the kids.

But how would Xi react to the populism of Donald Trump?

North Korea is responding to President Donald Trump’s tough words in Asia by saying the US should oust him from power.

He later tweeted a warning to North Korea to avoid “a fatal miscalculation”.

But the pageantry is helpful to Xi’s consolidation of power at home, Crane said.

It says the US should heed its advice “if it does not want a awful nuclear disaster and tragic doom”. The US president’s visit comes amid the increasing threats from North Korea, a troubled geopolitical ally of China.

While in South Korea, Mr Trump had offered North Koreans a “path towards a much better future”, having urged the regime to “come to the table” and “make a deal” over its nuclear programme.

Trade will also be high on the agenda for talks between Mr Trump and Mr Xi, and last week the President branded the US-China trade deficit “embarrassing” and “horrible”.

Among them are potential tensions over trade and China’s willingness to put the squeeze on North Korea over its nuclear weapons program.

White House officials have said that if Trump were to chide Xi about human rights or democratic reforms he would likely do it privately. But numerous accords have been in the works long before Trump entered office.

“The Chinese government know who they’re dealing with”, said Beijing-based historian Jeremiah Jenne.

While Trump has publicly touted his strong rapport with Xi, attempting to leverage their personal ties into substantive progress has had mixed results. The entire Forbidden City has been shut down owing to Trump’s presence.

“Looking forward to a full day of meetings with President Xi and our delegations tomorrow”.

Both leaders say they have struck up a friendship since Trump treated Xi to a plush visit at the billionaire’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida for their first meeting in April.

Trump is also under mounting pressure from United States business groups to solve trade complaints with Beijing.

“The Chinese have figured out how to play Trump: flatter him”.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a business event at the Great Hall of the People, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Beijing.

Xi said the girl deserved an “A+”, Xinhua reported.

“We will make it fair and it will be tremendous for both of us”, Trump said. After the North’s accelerating nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile launches, China approved tougher United Nations sanctions.

He and the first lady emerged from their limousine to an elaborate show of flattery, with horn players heralding Trump’s arrival for a day of extended talks with his Chinese counterpart.

South Korean legislators applauded as the USA president, whose tour of Asia has been dominated by fears over nuclear-armed North Korea, vowed not to be intimidated and warned Pyongyang it should not test American resolve.

But American reporters covering USA presidential visits to Beijing have had mixed success in questioning leaders here. The building dates back to the eighteenth century and was fully restored in 2005, making it one of the most well-preserved parts of the palace complex.