They were sitting down for their first dinner together Friday morning Australian time when the missile strike on a Syrian air base ordered by President Trump was launched.
The host marked the conclusion of the visit with in his usual style of repeated emphasis: “In the long time we are going to have a very, very great relationship.”
But the US President ended up with little except the beginning of a personal relationship with President Xi.
In diplomatic terms it was more sweet seduction than summit, long mapped out by the Chinese who have resisted Trump provocations during the US election campaign and since he was sworn in.
Mr Trump had warned of a trade war against Beijing, and a literal war against a nuclear-armed North Korea, and he aimed no substantial policy shifts from Mr Xi.
“I just want to say that President Xi and all of his representatives have been really interesting to be with,” Mr Trump said.
“I believe lots of very potentially bad problems will be going away.”
Source:AFP