Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared to notice that US President Donald Trump was struggling to climb a staircase during their meeting in Beijing, prompting an unexpected pause that many observers believe was to allow Trump to catch his breath.
The two leaders were making their way into a conference venue when Trump, 79, seemed unable to tackle the steps in one go. Video footage shows Xi placing a hand on Trump's back as they stopped, with Trump appearing tired before recovering his composure.
The incident comes amid renewed scrutiny of Trump's health. Last weekend, he was labelled 'unfit to serve' after video emerged appearing to show him asleep during an Oval Office briefing.
During the summit, Xi issued stark warnings about Taiwan, telling Trump that the issue is 'the most important in China-US relations' and cautioning that Washington's handling could lead to 'conflicts'. Trump, by contrast, opened with praise, calling Xi 'a great leader' and 'an honour to be your friend'.
The leaders held two hours of closed-door talks at the Great Hall of the People, covering trade and other issues. Trump later invited Xi to the White House in September.
