© REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstU.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. first lady Melania visit the Forbidden City with China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China, November 8, 2017.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are reportedly being treated like royalty on their first official visit to China.
Trump and his wife were granted a rare dinner at the Forbidden City, an honor that has not been bestowed on a foreign leader since the founding of the People's Republic of China 68 years ago,
reports New York Daily News, as well as several other media outlets.
The president and first lady arrived in China, the third leg of Trump's two-week Asia tour, Wednesday afternoon. After landing in Beijing, Trump and Melania toured the Forbidden City with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan.
© NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty ImagesChina’s President Xi Jinping shakes hands with President Donald Trump next to his wife Peng Liyuan and first lady Melania Trump
The Forbidden City, a massive palace complex, was the residence of the imperial family for centuries.
At this world-famous site, which was shut down for this special visit, the leaders of two of the world's most powerful countries enjoyed a Peking Opera performance and a dinner together.
Such treatment is notably different from what former President Barack Obama received on his farewell tour.
Obama was "
snubbed" by the Chinese when he visited Beijing for the G-20 summit last year.
© REUTERS/Thomas PeterOn Friday, Melania Trump visited the Beijing Zoo
"
Xi is going to treat Trump almost like an emperor," Ming Wang, a professor of government and politics at George Mason University,
told CNN, arguing that China "
will give Trump an exceptional reception, essentially they'll try to make Trump happy."
Whether Trump will be swayed by such treatment remains to be seen. The president is expected to press China on issues concerning bilateral trade and North Korea, two huge problems impacting the bilateral relationship. While Trump has spoken highly of China's president, the country's strongest leader in decades, on numerous occasions, his administration has not hesitated to antagonize the Chinese on matters impacting U.S. strategic national interests.
It remains to be seen whether talks between Trump and Xi will be productive or largely ceremonial
Comment: On paper, it was productive:
Trump's deals made in China
China Petroleum and Chemical Corp signed a US$43 billion deal to jointly explore natural gas with the US in Alaska; financial support will come from China Investment Corp and Bank of China.
China National Petroleum Corp signed an initial deal with Cheniere Energy for a "long-term supply contract" of liquefied natural gas.
Xiaomi, OPPO and Vivo will sign deals to buy stuff from US telecom mobile chip maker Qualcomm (Broadcom made a US$105 billion takeover bid for Qualcomm in early November.)
The Silk Road Fund - linked to the People's Bank of China to promote the New Silk Roads/BRI - will set up a joint fund with the US.
China Investment Corp will set up a joint fund with Goldman Sachs.
China will buy more planes from Boeing and will import more Teslas.
Comment: On paper, it was productive:
Trump's deals made in China
China Petroleum and Chemical Corp signed a US$43 billion deal to jointly explore natural gas with the US in Alaska; financial support will come from China Investment Corp and Bank of China.
China National Petroleum Corp signed an initial deal with Cheniere Energy for a "long-term supply contract" of liquefied natural gas.
Xiaomi, OPPO and Vivo will sign deals to buy stuff from US telecom mobile chip maker Qualcomm (Broadcom made a US$105 billion takeover bid for Qualcomm in early November.)
The Silk Road Fund - linked to the People's Bank of China to promote the New Silk Roads/BRI - will set up a joint fund with the US.
China Investment Corp will set up a joint fund with Goldman Sachs.
China will buy more planes from Boeing and will import more Teslas.