President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping began a critical summit in Beijing on Thursday, addressing key issues such as trade, tariffs, Taiwan, and Iran.
The crucial meeting between Trump and Xi is scheduled to continue until Friday.
Xi Warns Trump On Taiwan
Xi stressed the significance of the Taiwan issue, terming it as the “most critical matter” in bilateral relations, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported, citing state media.
Xi stated that if the Taiwan issue is managed appropriately, bilateral relations can maintain stability. However, he warned that mishandling could lead to conflict, pushing the China-U.S. relationship into an “extremely dangerous” situation.
The Chinese President urged “extreme caution” from Washington in handling the Taiwan issue. Xi also stressed that “Taiwan independence” stands in direct conflict with maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait.
Can US-China Avoid The ‘Thucydides Trap’
Xi emphasized that US–China economic ties are based on “mutual benefit and win-win,” stressing that equal consultation is the right way to manage differences.
He welcomed recent progress in trade talks, calling the outcome beneficial for both countries and the world. Xi also urged both sides to maintain positive momentum and reaffirmed that “China’s door will only open wider,” encouraging deeper cooperation with U.S. firms, the report said.
Xi said a key question for both countries was whether they could avoid the “Thucydides Trap,” reported CNBC, citing the state media. The “Thucydides Trap” describes how “tensions historically between a rising and ruling power have often resulted in a war,” a concept popularized by Harvard professor Graham Allison.
‘Resolved’ Many Issues, Says Trump
Trump said U.S.-China relations would be “better than ever before” and praised his communication with Xi, saying the two leaders had “resolved many important issues” together, as per the SCMP.
He added that he was willing to work with Xi to “strengthen communication and cooperation,” “properly manage our differences,” and “usher in the best US-China relationship in history.”
According to the Financial Times, Trump said his “very first request” to Xi would be for China to create a more favorable environment for major American companies. Trump also said he plans to discuss the Strait of Hormuz crisis, with Washington hoping Beijing, a major buyer of Iranian oil, can pressure Tehran to help reopen the vital waterway.
Trump-Xi Expand Dialogue
Xi called for “expanding cooperation” between the U.S. and China across economic and trade relations, health, agriculture, tourism, cultural exchanges, and law enforcement, according to SCMP. The two leaders also discussed the Middle East, the Ukraine war, and the Korean peninsula.
Meanwhile, Trump concluded his visit to Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, telling reporters the talks went “Great” and praising the country, saying, “China’s beautiful.”
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by a Benzinga editor.
Image via Shutterstock
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