This is The Guardian.

Today, what does China want from Trump?

Let's travel back in time to what feels like a lifetime ago.

2017.

A freshly inaugurated Donald Trump arrives in Beijing and steps out of a stretch limit.

A military band starts up. Happy children wave American flags.

And throughout his trip, China pulls out all the stops

to give Trump the kind of treatment he drools over.

No expense was spared to show him a good time

and give him the kind of pageantry,

which we all now know that he really enjoys.

Every effort is made to make him feel special.

They gave him a private tour of the Forbidden City, which is quite rare.

They took him into rooms in this ancient imperial palace that U.S. presidents have not stepped into before.

The carpet under his feet is almost always red.

Back then, you know, China really wanted to impress Trump.

Trump with this kind of unknown quantity who China was keen to build a good relationship with.

Fast forward to 2026 and Trump is back in China.

Same city, same leaders, same carpet, very different world.

In the nine years since his last visit, we've had a U.S.-China trade war.

It's going to make us a much stronger, much richer nation.

COVID-19.

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