Copyright pakobserver
BUSAN, South Korea – Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China and the United States must ensure that their bilateral relations continue to progress smoothly, describing their relationship as a “giant ship” that requires careful navigation. Speaking during a meeting with US President Donald Trump, Xi noted that since Trump’s re-election, the two leaders have engaged in frequent communication, including three phone calls and multiple exchanges of letters. Xi emphasized that under their leadership, China-US relations have remained generally stable. The Chinese president also mentioned a recent round of talks in Kuala Lumpur, where the economic and trade teams from both nations reached a fundamental agreement on addressing each other’s key concerns. This laid the groundwork for their meeting on Thursday. While acknowledging that differences in national contexts sometimes lead to disagreements, Xi pointed out that it is natural for the world’s two largest economies to experience occasional friction. “You and I are at the helm of China-US relations,” said Xi. “In the face of winds, waves and challenges, we should stay the right course, navigate through the complex landscape, and ensure the steady sailing forward of the giant ship of China-US relations.” Trump said he had reached a deal to reduce tariffs on China in exchange for Beijing resuming US soybean purchases, keeping rare earths exports flowing and cracking down on the illicit trade of fentanyl. His remarks come after the face-to-face talks with Xi in the South Korean city of Busan, their first since 2019. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a nearly two-hour meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The leaders engaged in discussions aimed at addressing major concerns between the two countries. At the conclusion of the meeting, Trump warmly shook hands with Xi and escorted him to his car. Following the interaction, the U.S. president was given a formal red carpet send-off at the airport.
