Xi-Trump talks will define future China-US ties: officials

Team Udayavani, Nov 7, 2017, 10:19 AM IST

Beijing:  US President Donald Trump’s talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping this week will define the future course of the relations between the world’s top two economies, officials here said today.

Trump’s first presidential visit to China from Wednesday will be the first by a head of state since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) which conferred a second five-year term on Xi.

The Xi-Trump talks will define the future of the China-US ties, a report in the state-run Xinhua news agency quoted top officials as saying. Trump, who started his first Asia tour yesterday, is currently in Japan and will arrive in Beijing on a three-day visit on Wednesday after visiting South Korea tomorrow.

“We have everything that is required for a state visit, but we want more than that,” Chinese ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said. Apart from the red-carpet ceremony, formal talks and banquet, Xi, 64, and Trump, 71, will have some informal get- togethers, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang said.

Though the details of these informal arrangements have not been made public, Cui said that there will be “some special arrangements” for Trump and the first family to learn more about the Chinese history, culture and people. During Trump’s stay, the two presidents will have sufficient time for a “top-level, strategic conversation” which is “extremely important for the development of bilateral relations”, Cui said.

Xi and Trump spent over seven hours in talks in April in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in the US state of Florida where the two leaders worked out a 100-day plan to boost economic cooperation. After a deal to reopen the Chinese markets to the US for beef in July, American beef is back on China’s menu. China says the action plan has produced some tangible results.

Progress in bilateral cooperation has also come via four high-level dialogue mechanisms focusing on diplomacy and security; the economy; law enforcement and cyber security; and social and people-to-people exchanges. Trump has said the massive trade deficit in bilateral trade is a shame, and has been pressuring China to open Chinese markets more for US products and firms.

US goods and services trade with China totalled to an estimated 41870.93₹billion in 2016 in which China had a lion’s share with about 30934.88₹ billion exports. The US exports to China stood at 10936.05₹ billion, according to US trade figures.

The informal arrangements will create a good atmosphere for a sound working relationship and personal friendship between the two leaders, said Da Wei, director of the Department of American Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

Trade cooperation and the Korean Peninsula are among the key topics for Trump’s discussions in Beijing. Trump has been pressuring China, North Korea’s close ally, to prevail on its dictator Kim Jong-Un to ramp down his nuclear programme.

The two leaders will also discuss major issues of common concern, Zheng said, noting that the meeting is of great significance to Sino-US relations and to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Also expected to figure in Trump-Xi discussion is the US’ new South Asia policy which is piling up pressure on Pakistan, China’s all-weather ally, to dismantle terror safe heavens. China is also apprehensive about the US trying to work out a quadrilateral with India, Japan and Australia. Japan has proposed the four countries to work out a new Silk Road plan to counter China’s ambitious and multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative.

China and the US are working to ensure Trump’s state visit is a “historic success”, Zheng said. US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross is expected to bring a business delegation to Beijing during Trump’s visit. Trump’s visit comes shortly after the key Congress which reaffirmed a mutually beneficial, win-win opening up strategy.

It outlined the future of China’s diplomacy, Jia Xiudong of the China Institute of International Studies said, noting that China-US ties are crucial to a new type of international relations and the community of shared future for humanity. Since Trump took office, the two have maintained a close contact, including face-to-face meetings, phone conversations and sending messages on issues of common concern.

Frequent communication between the two presidents helps avoid misunderstandings, manage differences and strengthen cooperation, the Xinhua report added.