When Donald Trump described Xi Jinping as a “very special man” in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People yesterday, the scene was worlds apart from the Indiana campaign rally last year where he declared that the US “cannot continue to allow China to rape our country”.

The US president did mention trademark grievances, including the “massive trade distortion” between the countries. But his language was remarkably restrained for a man who castigated China so many times during the presidential race that a video of him repeatedly saying “China” went viral.

Speaking to business leaders before his meeting with the Chinese president, Mr Trump said he did not “blame China” for the US trade deficit with the country. “Who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country to the benefit of its citizens? I give China great credit,” he said.