Trump invokes 1868 Burlingame Treaty to highlight deep roots of relationship; Xi speaks of WWII ‘friendship forged in blood and fire’
2-MIN READ2-MINCarol Yangin BeijingPublished: 1:48pm, 25 Sep 2026Updated: 1:49pm, 25 Sep 2026When US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in the East Room, every detail of the state dinner was steeped in symbolism, with sparkling wine served as a nod to a pivotal moment in Sino-US relations and references to “ping-pong diplomacy”.The meal opened with a toast of Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs, a vineyard selected to honour the historic 1972 “Toast to Peace” shared by then US president Richard Nixon and Chinese premier Zhou Enlai, according to the first lady’s office.
01:16Xi recounts US teacher’s donation to fight desertification in China as example of Sino-US friendship“The same American sparkling wine served at that historic gathering continues to be enjoyed at White House functions today,” Melania Trump’s office said in a statement.
In his speech, Donald Trump reflected on the deep roots of bilateral contacts, pointing out that the first formal delegation of Chinese diplomats arrived in the United States 158 years ago.
