AGENCIES

US President Donald Trump left China yesterday without major breakthroughs on trade or tangible help from Beijing to end the Iran war, despite spending two days praising his host, Xi Jinping.

Trump’s visit to America’s main strategic and economic rival -- the first by a US president since his own trip in 2017 -- aimed to deliver tangible results to boost his sagging approval ratings ahead of the midterm elections.

The summit featured elaborate pageantry, from goose-stepping soldiers to tours of a secret garden, but behind closed doors Xi warned Trump that mishandling Taiwan, China’s top concern, could spiral into conflict.

Trump arrived in Beijing seeking deals in sectors including agriculture, aviation, rare earths and artificial intelligence, while trying to contain tensions in several geopolitical flashpoints.

Trump said Xi had agreed to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and buy Boeing jets, American oil and soybeans.

But there were no formal announcements, and China’s foreign ministry would neither confirm nor deny Trump’s claims when asked yesterday afternoon.

The guarded Chinese response reflected the broader tone of the summit, where Trump’s overtures to Xi -- whom he called a “great leader” and “friend” -- were met with more restrained language from Beijing.

Still, Trump said yesterday that “a lot of good” had come from the trip.

“We’ve made some fantastic trade deals, great for both countries,” he said after walking with Xi among the rosebushes of Zhongnanhai, the central leadership compound beside Beijing’s Forbidden City.

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