President Trump capped Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit with a tour of the National Archives, giving the Communist leader a glimpse at the founding documents of America’s democracy.
Bradford Wilson, the archivist of the United States, led the 10-minute tour of framed copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
Mr. Trump reflected on the disparity between China’s ancient culture and the U.S.’ relative youth.
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“We were just comparing,” Mr. Trump said Friday. “Ours goes 250 years, which is great, and we’re proud of it. But theirs goes 6,000 years. There’s a little difference between 6,000 and 250, but we’re very proud of the 250.”
The archives, located in the heart of Washington, were adorned with large banners featuring five stars and the U.S. and China flags.
The leaders, joined by first lady Melania Trump and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan, entered and exited the archives on a red carpet that ran up its grand exterior staircase.
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Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi shared final remarks on the stairs before the Chinese couple departed for the airport and flight home.
The U.S. and China are the world’s leading economies. The Trump administration and Beijing have wrangled over tariffs and trade, and both nations want to dominate the race to develop artificial intelligence.
On Thursday, the leaders held closed-door meetings, toured the White House grounds and toasted the U.S.-China relationship in a lavish state dinner in the East Room.
The leaders worked through trade matters, including promised Chinese purchases of U.S. farm products, and agreed that artificial intelligence should promote peace and be based on healthy competition.
Mr. Trump on Friday confirmed that the pair discussed the Iran war behind closed doors. Beijing is a strategic partner to Tehran, historically, making the topic a sensitive one.
“I think we’re gonna do great,” Mr. Trump told reporters.
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Some experts, however, called the summit a disappointment.
“We can be glad that they showed they want to keep the relationship from going over a cliff. But the two presidents are making nice while the two countries remain locked in a bitter competition over trade, tech, Taiwan, defense, rare earths and industrial policy,” said Daniel Russel, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute.
He said the “real test” will be whether the nations follow through on topics such as tariff rollbacks, if rare earth shipments from China to U.S. increase, and if the Trump administration delivers an arms package to Taiwan or continues its delays.
“Dialogue is useful. Pretending the underlying conflicts have been resolved is not,” Mr. Russel said.
Mr. Trump on Friday said he plans to see Mr. Xi at an Asian economic conference in China in November and at the Group of 20 summit in Doral, Florida, in December.
“Much has been, and will be, accomplished,” Mr. Trump wrote on social media. “I look forward to our next meeting!”
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