Trump-Xi Meet: Temple of Heaven Visit and State Dinner Mark Key Day in Beijing

US President Donald Trump spent the third day of his China visit engaging in high-level diplomacy and cultural sightseeing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders visited the historic Temple of Heaven on Thursday, followed by continued discussions on bilateral ties.

The visit to the iconic Temple of Heaven underscored the blend of tradition and modern statecraft during Trump’s ongoing trip. Trump, accompanied by his son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law Lara Trump, arrived at the 600-year-old site where Xi Jinping personally welcomed him. The leaders shook hands before exploring the complex, known for its striking circular architecture and blue-tiled roofs. Trump took time to read plaques detailing the temple’s history, built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, where emperors once prayed for good harvests and peace.

Historic Site, Symbolic Gestures

The Temple of Heaven visit carried cultural significance. The leaders posed for photographs outside the complex, joined by Eric and Lara Trump. Chinese officials had arranged a detailed briefing on the site’s heritage. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the temple’s centrepiece, drew particular attention during the walk-through. This outing came after a grand welcome the previous day, which included nearly 300 Chinese children greeting Trump at Beijing International Airport and a red carpet reception.

State Dinner Highlights Culinary Diplomacy

On Wednesday evening, China hosted a lavish state dinner at the Great Hall of the People in Trump’s honour. The menu prominently featured Beijing roast duck and beef ribs, prepared with attention to the US President’s preference for thoroughly cooked meat. Other dishes included seasonal vegetables and Chinese specialties. Desserts ranged from tiramisu and ice cream to fresh fruit and a distinctive shell-shaped pastry.

Trump and Xi sat together during the dinner. The US President spoke about the long-standing relationship between the two nations and the mutual respect between their people. Senior American officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, attended alongside prominent business leaders. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook were among the CEOs of 17 American companies accompanying Trump. Musk was seen listening attentively during proceedings.

Business Leaders Join Diplomatic Engagement

The presence of top American executives signalled the economic dimension of the visit. Tables were meticulously prepared, with staff wearing gloves and paying close attention to every detail. Photographs from the dinner captured the formal yet cordial atmosphere, including moments of Trump and Xi greeting children during the welcoming ceremony.

Fox News Crew Notes Beijing’s Surveillance

Meanwhile, American journalists covering the visit expressed surprise at Beijing’s extensive CCTV network. A Fox News correspondent highlighted the large number of cameras on city streets. In one reported instance, the crew’s driver received a fine equivalent to about 3,600 rupees for a brief parking violation, underscoring the tight enforcement enabled by the surveillance infrastructure.

Symbolic Start to the Visit

Prior to Trump’s arrival in Beijing on Wednesday, both American and Chinese flags were hoisted near Mao Zedong’s portrait at Tiananmen Gate. Chinese Army soldiers presented a guard of honour, adding to the ceremonial welcome.

The Trump-Xi meet comes at a time when both countries are navigating complex trade, technology, and strategic issues. While specific outcomes of the bilateral talks held on Thursday were not immediately detailed in public briefings, the engagements reflect efforts to maintain open channels between the world’s two largest economies.

Cultural Exchange Amid High-Stakes Diplomacy

The Temple of Heaven visit offered a moment of cultural exchange. Trump’s family members appeared engaged throughout the tour. The site’s global reputation for traditional Chinese architecture provided a scenic backdrop to the leaders’ interactions.

As the visit progresses, observers expect further discussions on economic cooperation and regional matters. The combination of formal talks, state hospitality, and heritage site visits illustrates the multifaceted nature of US-China summits.

Local reactions in Beijing have been largely positive, with residents noting the heightened security and ceremonial displays. For many, the high-profile visit brings attention to China’s rich historical landmarks while spotlighting its modern governance systems, including the much-discussed surveillance network.

The coming days may see more announcements as the two sides conclude their engagements. Trump’s China visit continues to draw significant international attention, with both diplomatic substance and visual moments from Beijing making headlines worldwide.

Buffett in a Sweater, Abel at the Helm: Berkshire's Annual Meet Marks a Quiet Changing of the Guard

As Greg Abel led Berkshire Hathaway's 2026 annual meeting for the first time, a relaxed Warren Buffett sat in the front row and delivered an emotional tribute to Apple CEO Tim Cook — calling his stewardship one of American business's great miracles.

A Different Kind of Entrance

Warren Buffett walked into the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday wearing a sweater. It was a small detail — the kind you might miss — but for those who have followed the 93-year-old investor across decades of shareholder meetings, it was anything but ordinary. The man who built Berkshire Hathaway into a $900 billion empire almost always appeared on this stage in a dark suit. This time, he settled into the front row looking, by most accounts, like a man who had genuinely let go.

The May 2 gathering of Berkshire Hathaway shareholders was different in other ways too. For the first time in the company's history, it was Greg Abel — appointed CEO last year — who took the stage to run the proceedings. Buffett was present, visible, occasionally smiling. But the meeting was Abel's to lead.

Cook Singled Out for Praise

The moment that drew the widest reaction came mid-morning. Buffett, given time to speak, turned toward the audience and asked Tim Cook — Apple's outgoing CEO, who was seated among the shareholders — to stand. Then he asked the thousands in the hall to applaud him.

"After Steve Jobs left, everyone was asking — who will handle Apple? Tim took responsibility. Taking the place of a stalwart like Steve and surpassing his records is one of the miracles of American business management," Buffett said.

Cook, who announced earlier this year that he would step down in September, acknowledged the recognition quietly. The tribute felt personal — Buffett has never been generous with such gestures. John Ternus is expected to take over as Apple's chief executive later this year.

The $35 Billion Gamble, Revisited

Buffett used the occasion to walk shareholders through one of Berkshire's most consequential decisions — its move into Apple stock roughly a decade ago. At the time, the company committed approximately $35 billion to Apple shares, a sum that represented nearly 10 percent of Berkshire's total investable resources. It was an unusual bet, and not everyone understood it.

According to Buffett, the risk was as much about personnel as it was about the business. "Back then, the average American investor didn't even know Tim Cook properly. We had placed such a large amount in the hands of a person who had taken charge after a legend."

That investment has since grown to approximately $185 billion, factoring in both dividend income and share price appreciation — a return of more than five times the original outlay. Buffett noted, in characteristic deadpan, that Berkshire did very little to earn it. "I didn't have to work a penny to make this much money. We at Berkshire are quite skilled at getting others to work and collecting money."

Apple remains the single largest holding in Berkshire's equity portfolio today.

Abel Steps Forward

Greg Abel's debut as meeting chairman was, by most assessments, measured and competent. He fielded questions from shareholders, deferred where appropriate to Buffett on matters of investment philosophy, and held the room with a steadiness that reassured many long-time attendees. The transition — from the Buffett era to whatever comes next — has been discussed for years. Saturday was the first concrete look at what it actually feels like.

Analysts following the company noted that Buffett's continued presence, even in a non-executive capacity, remains a stabilising factor. His remarks about Apple were received warmly on the trading floor in the days preceding the meeting. Initial reports indicate investor sentiment around Berkshire remained broadly positive through the weekend.

End of a Chapter at Apple Too

The meeting also served, somewhat unexpectedly, as a quiet farewell moment for Cook. His tenure at Apple — which began when Jobs died in October 2011 — has been defined by sustained growth, the expansion of services revenue, and the company's ascent to become the world's most valuable public company by market capitalisation.

Buffett described that arc in some detail: the garage origins, Jobs' ouster and return, the iPhone's arrival. But his point was that it was Cook who engineered the second phase of ascent — the chapter that followed the legend. "Buffett's tribute may matter more than the financial community realises," one market observer noted after the session. "It is rare, and it lands."

Local authorities confirmed the venue held close to 40,000 registered shareholders and guests — attendance broadly in line with prior years.

What Comes Next

No major strategic announcements emerged from Saturday's session. Abel indicated Berkshire's core philosophy — patient capital, quality businesses, long holding periods — would not change under his leadership. Questions about succession at Berkshire's operating subsidiaries, and about the company's cash position, were addressed but not resolved.

Sources familiar with the company's direction said further clarity is expected at the next board meeting, scheduled for later in the second quarter. For now, what the Omaha weekend offered was something rarer: a peaceful handoff, caught on video, in a sweater.