U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a 135-minute summit in Beijing and agreed to build a "constructive, strategically stable U.S.-China relationship." The two leaders emphasized the need for cooperation and stability in ties, and also agreed to expand economic, trade, and military communication channels. They exchanged views on Middle East dynamics, the Korean Peninsula, Ukraine, and other international issues.
According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television (CCTV) on the 14th, the two leaders held talks for more than 135 minutes at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Earlier, on Oct. 30 last year, the U.S.-China summit in Busan ran for about 100 minutes.
◇ U.S. and China declare a "constructive, strategically stable relationship"
According to the report, the U.S. and Chinese leaders agreed at the summit to establish a "constructive, strategically stable relationship." Xi said, "This will provide strategic direction for our bilateral relations for more than the next three years," adding, "I believe this will be welcomed by the peoples of both countries and by the international community."
On the constructive, strategically stable relationship, Xi said it "should be an 'active stability' centered on cooperation, a 'good-faith stability' with restrained competition, a 'routine stability' with manageable differences, and a 'sustainable stability' in which peace is expected." He added, "This is not a mere slogan but action to move toward each other together."
On a trade agreement, he said, "Yesterday our economic and trade teams achieved broadly balanced and positive results. This is good news for both our peoples and the world," adding, "Both sides should implement the major common understandings we have reached and make better use of political, diplomatic, and military communication channels. We should expand exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, health, agriculture, tourism, people-to-people ties, and law enforcement."
◇ Discussions on the Korean Peninsula and Iran as well… Pledge to "expand openness" to U.S. corporations
The U.S. and Chinese leaders also exchanged views on major international and regional issues, including the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East, and the Ukraine crisis. They also agreed to cooperate with each other to ensure the successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in China in November this year and the Group of 20 (G20) summit to be held in the United States.
Jensen Huang, chief executive officer (CEO) of Nvidia, Tim Cook, Apple CEO, and Elon Musk, Tesla and SpaceX CEO, among other major corporate executives, accompanied the meeting. They told Xi, "We hold the Chinese market in very high regard," and said they "hope to strengthen cooperation with China." Xi responded, "U.S. corporations have been deeply involved in China's reform and opening up, and both sides have benefited from this. Going forward, openness will open even wider."
◇ "The best relationship in history"… visit to Tiantan Park as well
The "thawing mode" between the two leaders was sensed from their morning meeting. Upon meeting Xi, President Trump lightly tapped Xi's left arm as they shook hands, a friendly gesture. As they walked together to the Great Hall of the People, the two leaders continued their conversation with light physical contact. Xi stood side by side with President Trump atop a staircase and pointed to downtown Beijing with his finger as he offered an introduction.
In their opening remarks at the summit, the two leaders expressed mutual trust and emphasized the importance of cooperation. Xi said, "We should be partners, not rivals, help each other succeed, and achieve common prosperity." Trump praised Xi as a "great leader," saying, "The two of us have built the longest-lasting personal relationship of any heads of state in the history of our two countries. U.S.-China relations will be the best in history."
Immediately after the talks, the two leaders headed to Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park. Located about 6 kilometers from the Great Hall of the People, Tiantan Park is where emperors once prayed for good harvests and was built in 1420 during the reign of the Ming emperor Yongle. The park's famed Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (Qiniandian) is the structure where emperors prayed for abundant five grains and is regarded as the largest sacrificial structure to Heaven in China. Among U.S. presidents, Gerald Ford visited Tiantan Park in 1975. To prepare for President Trump's visit, authorities fully restricted outside access starting on the 13th.
After finishing the summit, President Trump and Xi held a state dinner together that day, and on the 15th they are scheduled to have a tea meeting and a luncheon together.