Xi Jinping Evokes 'Ping-pong Diplomacy'; Trump Gives Him a Bald Eagle Sculpture

[Financial News] U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the long history of exchanges between the two countries at a White House state dinner, underscoring their friendly ties. Xi Jinping described U.S.-China relations as reaching a new historical starting point, while Trump responded by presenting him with a sculpture of a bald eagle, a symbol of the United States.
Foreign media reported on the 25th that Trump hosted a state dinner at the White House on the 24th (local time) for Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan. At the dinner, the two leaders referred to their countries' history of cooperation and expressed hopes for further development of bilateral relations.
Xi Jinping invoked the history of the United States and China fighting Japan during World War II, stressing that their friendship was "forged in blood and fire." He also referred to "Ping-pong diplomacy," which helped pave the way for improved U.S.-China relations during the Richard Nixon administration, highlighting the significance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
He said the two sides had reached a common understanding on several issues at the summit that day. In particular, noting that the two leaders had met again less than six months after Trump's visit to Beijing in May, he assessed that U.S.-China relations had reached a new historical starting point.
Xi Jinping also stressed that the two countries should seek a new way to fulfill their responsibilities as major powers while getting along well with each other. He thanked President Trump and Melania for their considerate hospitality during the visit, saying that he had felt comfortable, as if he were at home.
Trump likewise emphasized the historical ties between the two countries. He cited the arrival of America's first trading ship to China in Guangzhou in 1784, as well as the visit to the United States by China's first official diplomatic delegation 158 years ago.
Trump said that U.S.-China relations had never been as good as they are now, and expressed a desire to continue building ties for the prosperity and security of future generations.

A special gift for Xi Jinping was also unveiled at the dinner. Trump presented him with an approximately 90-centimeter sculpture depicting the bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, with its wings spread.
Trump explained that he and Melania had personally participated in designing the sculpture, describing it as a work symbolizing America's spirit of freedom. He added that he hoped it would find a good place in Beijing. The dinner menu also reflected the history of U.S.-China exchanges. The White House prepared the same American sparkling wine used when President Richard Nixon and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai toasted in Beijing in 1972. The menu also included dishes such as sea bass prepared with American ingredients and Chinese-style elements.
In addition to officials from both governments, the dinner was attended by leading U.S. business figures, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter