Trump to become first foreign leader to dine in Forbidden City since founding of modern China
Hong Kong (CNN)  Donald Trump  will receive an honor in Beijing not granted to any US President since the founding of the People's Republic of China: official dinner inside the Forbidden City.
When  Trump  and  his  wife Melania land in the Chinese capital Wednesday   they  will join President Xi Jinping and  his  wife  Peng Liyuan  for a tour of the Forbidden City   the historic palace that housed Chinese emperors and their families for almost 500 years.
 Trump  is expected to dine with Xi inside the Jianfu Palace   although the exact location of the dinner hasn't been confirmed. The building dates back to the eighteenth century and was fully restored in 2005   making it one of the most well-preserved parts of the palace complex.
Wherever  he  dines in the Forbidden City   Trump  will be the first foreign leader to have an official dinner in the palace since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949.
Dining in the Forbidden City will be a significant honor for  Trump   in keeping with what China's Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai promised would be a "state visit-plus."
"The Chinese government know who they're dealing with " said Beijing-based historian Jeremiah Jenne. "It's another in a long line of fairly shrewd moves by the Chinese government and something ( Trump  is) going to be very impressed with."
Ming Wang  a professor of government and politics at George Mason University  said the Chinese "will give  Trump  an exceptional reception  essentially they'll try to make  Trump  happy -- that will work to China's advantage."
During last year's election campaign   Trump  was a critic of China  but since becoming President -- and especially since meeting with President Xi in April --  he  has softened considerably  toning down  his  rhetoric which once called for harsher trade and economic policies towards Beijing.
"(Xi's) going to treat  Trump  almost like an emperor " said Ming.
JUST WATCHED Trump meets with South Korean President Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH  Trump  meets with South Korean President 02:22
 Trump 's visit to Beijing comes on the back of successful trips to Tokyo and Seoul  where  he  was lavished with praise by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Moon Jae-in.
While both those leaders are key US allies   Trump  will be facing a much more formidable task in China   where  he  will be hoping to get support from Xi for reigning in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs  as well as trade issues.
Ahead of leaving Seoul Wednesday   Trump  tweeted  he  was "very much looking forward to meeting with President Xi who is just off  his  great political victory " referring to the Chinese leader's shoring up of power at the 19th Communist Party Congress last month.
"We'll find out how helpful soon "  he  said. "China's out trying very hard to solve the problem with North Korea."
"If we get China  if we get Russia ... we think that things will happen and they could happen very quickly "  Trump  added.
Hong Kong (CNN)   [TGT] will receive an honor in Beijing not granted to any US President since the founding of the People's Republic of China: official dinner inside the Forbidden City.
When   [TGT] and  his  wife Melania land in the Chinese capital Wednesday   they  will join President Xi Jinping and  his  wife  Peng Liyuan  for a tour of the Forbidden City   the historic palace that housed Chinese emperors and their families for almost 500 years.
  [TGT] is expected to dine with Xi inside the Jianfu Palace   although the exact location of the dinner hasn't been confirmed. The building dates back to the eighteenth century and was fully restored in 2005   making it one of the most well-preserved parts of the palace complex.
Wherever  he  dines in  [TGT] will be the first foreign leader to have an official dinner in the palace since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949.
Dining in the Forbidden City will be a significant honor for  Trump   in keeping with what China's Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai promised would be a "state visit-plus."
"The Chinese government know who they're dealing with " said Beijing-based historian Jeremiah Jenne. "It's another in a long line of fairly shrewd moves by the Chinese government and something (  [TGT] is) going to be very impressed with."
Ming Wang  a professor of government and politics at George Mason University  said the Chinese "will give   [TGT]   an exceptional reception  essentially they'll try to make   [TGT] happy -- that will work to China's advantage."
During last year's election campaign    [TGT] was a critic of China  but since becoming President -- and especially since meeting with President Xi in April --  he  has softened considerably  toning down  his  rhetoric which once called for harsher trade and economic policies towards Beijing.
"(Xi's) going to treat   [TGT] almost like an emperor " said Ming.
JUST WATCHED Trump meets with South Korean President Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH   [TGT] meets with South Korean President 02:22
  [TGT]  's visit to Beijing comes on the back of successful trips to Tokyo and Seoul  where   [TGT]   was lavished with praise by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Moon Jae-in.
While both those leaders are key US allies    [TGT] will be facing a much more formidable task in China   where   [TGT]   will be hoping to get support from Xi for reigning in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs  as well as trade issues.
Ahead of leaving Seoul Wednesday    [TGT]   tweeted  he  was "very much looking forward to meeting with President Xi who is just off  his  great political victory " referring to the Chinese leader's shoring up of power at the 19th Communist Party Congress last month.
"We'll find out how helpful soon "  he  said. "China's out trying very hard to solve the problem with North Korea."
"If we get China  if we get Russia ... we think that things will happen and they could happen very quickly "   [TGT] added.