In the meantime, Trump struck a warm tone, telling Xi: “You’re a great leader…sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true.

“It’s an honor to be with you. It’s an honor to be your friend,” he said, adding that “the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before”.

Trump spoke about Taiwan after meeting

Trump avoided speaking publicly about Taiwan while in China, but discussed it with reporters on Air Force One after leaving Beijing.