Why Trump gave Xi an ornate bald eagle statue at the state dinner

Image source, EPA Image caption, President Trump said he and First Lady Melania helped design the statue

US President Donald Trump has presented Chinese President Xi Jinping with a sculpture of a bald eagle, a bird native to North America and his country's national symbol, during a lavish state dinner in Washington.

The gift, which was unveiled before VIP guests at the Thursday dinner, embodies "the free and soaring spirit of America", said Trump .

He said that he and First Lady Melania Trump participated in its design. The statue is part of a valuable - but sometimes tricky - aspect of international diplomacy: gift-giving.

Such gifts are a small but meaningful element of the larger aim of Xi and Trump's three-day summit – forging personal relationships between heads of two global superpowers.