Last week, US President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing made global headlines. And there was no surprise. Whenever leaders of the world's two undisputed superpowers meet, it naturally attracts global attention. This was the first visit by any US president to China in nearly a decade. Coincidentally, Trump was also the last US president to visit Beijing back in November 2017. But the difference between China in 2017 and in 2026 is striking. When President Xi Jinping received President Trump at the Great Hall of the People, the message was unmistakable - this was a meeting of two equals.

Trump, who often deals with foreign leaders in a blunt and sometimes dismissive manner, appeared noticeably different in Beijing. The US president, known for making off-the-cuff remarks, often to the discomfort of allies and foes alike, remained unusually measured, sticking largely to scripted comments in both formal and informal settings. China, on its part, rolled out an extraordinary welcome. President Xi even invited Trump to the........

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