Shadowing Practice: Trump and Xi conclude 'very successful' talks in Beijing, but no deals announced | BBC News - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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I'm Steve Lai in Beijing.
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I'm Steve Lai in Beijing.
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Good to have you with me here in Beijing as we
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wrap up a second day of talks between President Trump
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and President Xi Jinping that has come to an end here in the Chinese capital.
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Just to get you across some of the recent lines that have just come in that we've been looking out for,
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we have details about the possible visit to Beijing by Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
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So this coming to us via Reuters quoting the Kremlin.
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Details of Putin's visit to China have been agreed,
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a date to be announced soon.
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President Putin and President Xi will discuss the results of Trump's visit to China during their bilateral contacts.
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So a clear indication then that President Putin is on his way to Beijing at some point in the near future.
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Once we get a date on that,
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we'll bring that to you.
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In the meantime, getting you up to speed with what's been happening here.
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Well, President Trump has now departed from Beijing.
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He left on Air Force One a few hours ago,
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being seen off the runway by government officials and schoolchildren waving flags.
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Now, earlier in the day,
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both leaders met at Zhongnan High.
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That's a highly secure compound in the heart of Beijing,
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where China's top leaders live and work.
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The first full day of Mr. Trump's trip to China concluded with a lavish state banquet on a visit
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that appears to signal something of a reset between the rival's superpowers.
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Now, the two sides have been giving differing accounts of what was discussed during a lengthy meeting on Thursday.
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Mr. Trump said they'd made some fantastic trade deals,
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but didn't give any details.
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The U.S president also told Fox News that Mr. Xi had also offered to help to end the war in Iran.
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President Xi would like to see a deal made.
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He would like to see a deal made.
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And he did offer, he said,
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if I can be of any help at all,
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I would like to be of help.
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He did say that.
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Yeah, he did say that.
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And look, anybody that buys that much oil has obviously got some kind of a relationship with him.
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But he said, I would love to be of help.
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If I could be of any help whatsoever,
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he'd like to see the Hormuz Strait open.
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I spoke to our China correspondent,
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Stephen McDonald, earlier and asked him more about the trade deals that were mentioned by President Trump.
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This is, I suppose, potentially a bit of perspective
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in terms of what constitutes a deal and what constitutes a bit of a promise to kind of maybe do something.
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I mean, Donald Trump was earlier talking up more US oil sales to China.
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I think it seems at best that the promise really is for China to consider this.
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He says they need our oil because of the difficulty they're having getting their oil from Iran.
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Of course, that's because of the war that he started.
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So, you know, the Chinese government might feel a bit miffed
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if they were forced to go to another source for that reason.
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And when you look at,
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you know, also the, well,
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the comment from Xi Jinping when he apparently said,
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any help I can give you to unblock the Strait of Hormuz,
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there I am, anything at all.
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No confirmation from the Chinese side that he's said anything like that.
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And it doesn't really sound like the type of language you might expect from Xi Jinping,
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especially when you consider that what the Chinese side has said is necessary to fix
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that problem is different to what the US side says is necessary.
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For example, the Chinese government has been calling for a complete cessation of all hostilities,
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including the US blockade that's being imposed there right now.
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So, I mean, it could just be a question of perspective
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or one side or another drumming it up more than is worthy, potentially.
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But in the end, I think what people are going to remember from all this,
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It's more the ceremonial nature of it,
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the pomp, the pageantry and everything that goes with it,
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because that's what kind of signals that these two superpowers are going to try and get on with one another,
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at least at some level,
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even though they've got these massive differences.
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And speaking about the two leaders in particular getting on together,
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I mean, President Trump, for his part,
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He, you know, he built his brand pretty much on tough talk
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and being tough on China in particular as he was sort of coming up in his first term and then,
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you know, the start of his second term as well.
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But we've seen quite a different man here in Beijing,
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a very, I don't want to say compliant,
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but he certainly was deferential towards President Xi Jinping and treated him with great respect.
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Yeah, right to the end.
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You can see he was so chuffed even when he left.
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He's so impressed with the welcome here.
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I mean, for example, I'll give you a little look at the front page of the Communist Party's main mouthpiece,
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the Redmond Rue bar.
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Look, it's all about Trump and how fantastic the visit is.
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It says there Xi Jinping Tong May Guo Tong Tong Tulampo Hui Tan.
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Basically that just means that Xi Jinping and Donald Trump had meetings.
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But you know it's all looking very positive and it's the same throughout the Chinese media here.
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Donald Trump of course happy with the honor guards,
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the cannon, the cheering children.
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China knows how to make him feel special and in that way it kind of works.
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He is, as you say, a bit more deferential.
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He's not the show-off leader he normally is.
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He knows when he's in Xi Jinping's presence.
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It's a power equal.
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And so he treats him in that way.
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Stephen McDonald there.
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Just a reminder of that bit of news I was giving you earlier,
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that the Kremlin via Reuters news agency have confirmed
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that details of Putin's visit to China have been agreed and a date will be announced soon.
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We'll be keeping our eyes peeled to see what that date is.
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It could be as early as next week.
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Anita, back to you.
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Steve, thank you very much.
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Steve Lai there.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

Engaging with video transcripts, such as the recent talks between President Trump and President Xi Jinping, offers a unique opportunity to learn English with YouTube. These discussions not only showcase real-world dialogue but also highlight the nuances of formal and informal communication. Practicing your speaking skills through these interactions can significantly enhance your fluency, confidence, and comprehension. The context of political talks, filled with strategic vocabulary and phrases, allows learners to experience authentic English used in high-stake scenarios, helping to prepare you for similar discussions in your own life.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

When analyzing the transcript, several key structures and expressions stand out, which are valuable for English learners:

  • “...has come to an end” - This expression is useful for indicating the conclusion of an event. It displays the proper use of the present perfect tense, which can describe actions relevant to the present.
  • “...if I can be of any help” - This conditional phrase is a polite way of offering assistance. Learning to structure conditional sentences will boost your conversational skills.
  • “a lavish state banquet” - The adjective "lavish" adds depth to your vocabulary, elevating descriptions in both writing and speaking. Using such descriptive language can help you refine your expressing skills.
  • “...potentially a bit of perspective” - This phrase introduces an idea of viewpoint, essential when discussing complex topics. Using phrases that signal perspective helps in developing critical thinking and conversational skills.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice speaking using this video, pay special attention to commonly mispronounced words and accent patterns that may arise:

  • “lavish” - The pronunciation can be tricky due to its stress on the first syllable (LA-vish). Proper emphasis will enhance your improve English pronunciation skills.
  • “concluded” - Make sure to practice the final syllable, which can often be dropped in fast speech. Clearly articulating all syllables is vital for proper pronunciation.
  • “bilateral” - The variable stress placement may confuse learners. Focus on the second syllable to articulate this word correctly.

By implementing the shadowing technique with this transcript, you can effectively mimic native speakers, enhancing your vocabulary, comprehension, and overall speaking ability. Utilize shadow speech practices to solidify your learning, and notice your proficiency improve as you go. Dive into these techniques and watch your English skills flourish!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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