16.05.2026 17:30
A photo from the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing has drawn criticism in international public opinion. The fact that not a single woman was present among the delegates representing the world's two largest economies during the high-level session at the Great Hall of the People sparked backlash. Commenting on the image, Harvard University economist Gita Gopinath described the situation as the end of meritocracy.
A photograph captured during the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing has sparked reactions in international public opinion and academic circles.
In the official photo of the bilateral meeting held at the Great Hall of the People, located within the National People's Congress building in Beijing, it was notable that no female representatives were present among the delegations and delegates of both countries. This scene at the critical summit of the world's two largest economies has reignited debates about gender inequality in leadership ranks.
"NOT A SINGLE WOMAN AT THE TABLE"
One of the clearest reactions to the photograph came from Harvard University Professor and Economist Gita Gopinath. In a post on the social media platform X, Gopinath described the image as "a picture of the end of meritocracy," stating, "There is not a single woman at the table in a meeting where the two largest economies come together."
"IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR SKILLS, BUT WHO YOU KNOW"
In an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian on the matter, Gopinath argued that the merit-based system has been abandoned, offering the following assessment:
"We have returned to the mindset where it's not about your skills, but who you know. With so many talented women in the world, it is truly impossible to understand how only one gender can be at the table."