BEIJING, May 15 – Following discussions about trade, Taiwan and Iran, the Chinese President took the U.S. President Donald Trump on an exclusive walk through the historic Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing during the final portion of their diplomatic meeting.
The secure government complex, which previously served as an imperial garden and currently accommodates the offices of the ruling Communist Party and the state council, sits next to Beijing’s renowned Forbidden City near Tiananmen Square.
Audio equipment picked up the conversation between the two leaders, revealing Trump’s amazement upon learning that certain trees in the garden had survived for a millennium.
“Let me tell you, all the trees on this side are over 200 to 300 years old,” the Chinese President explained through his interpreter while pointing toward the massive tree trunks. “Over there, there are some more than 400 years old.”
Trump responded with surprise, asking “They live that long?”
The Chinese leader continued, “There are also 1,000-year-old trees in other places.”
When Trump inquired whether other international leaders had visited the compound, the Chinese President confirmed such visits were uncommon.
“Very rarely,” he answered. “At first, we usually didn’t hold diplomatic events here. Even after we started having some, it’s still extremely rare. For example, Putin has been here.”
The Chinese President then encouraged Trump to feel the bark of a tree that was 280 years old.
“Good. I like it,” Trump responded.
This exchange provided an unusual look at casual diplomatic moments between world leaders.
Previously in September, recording equipment had captured a conversation between the Chinese President and Russian President Vladimir Putin about organ transplants and human longevity potentially reaching 150 years as they approached Tiananmen Square for Beijing’s military parade.
