Photo: AP Photo/Mark SchiefelbeinUS President Donald Trump, while visiting Beijing, persistently and conciliatoryly calls Chinese leader Xi Jinping a "great leader". The latter replies to his face that there may even be a conflict between China and the US if the issue of Taiwan is not resolved "properly".
The start of the Chinese leader's conversation Si Jinping and his guest, the President of the USA donald trump it passed in a conciliatory exchange of polite words. Xi said that China and the US should be "partners, not adversaries", and Trump said that Xi is a "great leader".
Still, the closed-door talks between the two delegations in Beijing are expected to focus on a range of tricky issues, including technology and trade, and there will be no easy topics. President Kine Xi immediately let Trump know that he was Tajvan "the most important issue in China-US relations".
At the beginning of the conversation, he pointed to the turbulent global situation, saying that the world has "reached a new crossroads."
"Now the question is whether China and United States they can overcome the so-called 'Thucydides Trap' and pioneer a new paradigm of major country relations," Xi said, referring to the term that describes the tendency toward conflict when an emerging power threatens an existing power.
"We should be partners, not adversaries, achieve success for each other, make progress together, and create the right way for the great countries of the new era to get along with each other," Xi added.
Because, if handled properly, relations between the two countries can maintain overall stability. And if not handled properly, the two countries may clash, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a very dangerous situation," Xi's warning was reported by Xinhua.
On the other hand, Trump praised their "fantastic relationship" and said he has "so much respect" for Xi and China, praising him as a "great leader."
He added that the American delegation was looking forward to discussing reciprocal trade and that he was "honored" to be in Beijing.
Given Trump's earlier threats against China and the rattling of crazy tariffs on Chinese products, his words could be interpreted as announcements of a major concession and a U-turn. On the other hand, the US president wholeheartedly created a reputation for himself as an unaccountable statesman whose words cannot be taken seriously.
In any case, he emphasized on this occasion that the group of top business leaders he brought with him - including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Apple CEO Tim Cook - came to China to "pay homage" and build business in the country.
"We have incredible people and they're all with me," Trump said during his opening remarks.
"We asked 30 of the best in the world. Every one of them said 'yes', and I didn't want second or third in the company. I wanted only the best. And they are here today to pay tribute to you and China, and look forward to trade and business, and it will be fully reciprocal as far as we are concerned," he added.
Expressing optimism at the start of the summit, Trump told Xi: "It's an honor to be with you. It's an honor to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the US will be better than ever before."
He also said that some people "don't like" when he calls Xi a "great leader," but that won't stop him from saying it.
"I tell everybody that. You're a great leader. Sometimes people don't like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it's true," Trump said.
After the big welcoming ceremony, Trump said he was "especially impressed with those kids" who greeted him energetically outside.
"They were happy. They were beautiful," Trump said. "Those kids were amazing and they represent so much."
Previously, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also in Beijing, announced that Trump would ask China to take a "more active role" in relation to Iran.
He also said that US administration officials will emphasize that "economies are falling apart because of this crisis" and that this will result in consumers "buying less Chinese products."
"So it's in their best interest to resolve this," Rubio said in an interview with Fox News.
"We're hoping to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to back off what they're doing now and trying to do in the Persian Gulf," Rubio said.
That message contrasted with comments from Trump, who played down differences with Xi over Iran before leaving Washington.
"We have a lot to talk about," Trump told reporters. "I wouldn't say Iran is among the topics because, to be honest with you, we have Iran pretty much under control."
Source: CNN/AP
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