Chinese President Xi Jinping received a symbolic gift from his US counterpart during a state dinner at the White House on Thursday. Donald Trump presented him with a roughly three-foot-tall sculpture of a bald eagle.
Xi also announced that two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, would soon travel to Zoo Atlanta as part of a broader gesture of friendship between China and the US. The statue was placed on a podium during the dinner. The two leaders discussed several issues linked to US-China relations, including trade, technology and artificial intelligence. “The giant panda have been an envoy of friendship between the Chinese and the Americans.
Because it is the national symbol of the United States, the bald eagle was chosen. He also announced a new student exchange programme under which 100,000 US students are expected to study in China over five years.
Trump said it was designed by an American artist in collaboration with him and First Lady Melania Trump. Trump said the bird represents America’s “free and soaring spirit” and said he hoped the statue would find a good place in Beijing. “I present President Xi with a gift made by an extraordinary American artist… designed in personal collaboration with Melania and myself,” Trump said while presenting the gift. Xi said the two sides had held “sincere and in-depth exchanges” and reached a common understanding on several issues. In a few days, two pandas – Ping Ping and Fu Shuang – will come to their new home in Zoo Atlanta and meet with the American people,” Xi said.
