US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held high-stakes talks in Beijing on Thursday (May 14). Following their “extremely positive” meeting, the US and China released their official statements on the views exchanged during the key discussions. While both hailed the meeting between the two leaders, they omitted the mention of certain claims made by each other. The summit comes amid heightened tensions over Iran and Taiwan, which remained one of the key focus points in the talks, along with trade tensions.<h2>White House on Iran</h2>In an official statement following the Trump-Xi talks, the White House said that the two leaders had a “good meeting”. Speaking of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, the statement read that the two sides agreed that the strait must remain open to support the free flow of energy. It added that Xi also emphasised China’s opposition to the militarisation of the strategic waterway and any tolls. According to the US statement, Xi also expressed interest in buying American oil. Both nations also agreed that Iran can never have nuclear weapons.“The two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy. President Xi also made clear China's opposition to the militarization of the Strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use, and he expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China's dependence on the Strait in the future. Both countries agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” the White House said.<h2>China’s statement on Iran</h2>Interestingly, China’s statement did not focus on Iran or even mention the country’s name in its official statement released by the foreign ministry. It also omitted any mention of the Strait of Hormuz or nukes. The lengthy statement talked about strengthening relations between the US and China in various sectors and fronts, from trade to diplomacy to military.The only slight mention of the conflict in the Middle East was that “the two presidents exchanged views on major international and regional issues, such as the Middle East situation, the Ukraine crisis, and the Korean Peninsula.”Later in the day, Trump claimed that Xi had offered China’s help to open the Strait of Hormuz as tensions continued in the Gulf region. He added that Xi has vowed not to send military equipment to aid Iran in its war against the US and Israel.“He said he's not going to give military equipment… he said that strongly,” Trump told the “Hannity” show on Fox News, following the talks between the two leaders in Beijing.“He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open, and said ‘if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help,’” Trump added.<h2>‘Most important issue’ or not?</h2>In an unusual move, Xi gave a blunt warning to Trump over Taiwan in Thursday’s summit in Beijing, warning of a possible fallout between the two nations if the issue is not handled properly. According to the statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry, Xi stressed that Taiwan remains the “most important issue” between the US and China. China even warned the US to exercise “extra caution in handling the Taiwan question”, threatening clashes and conflicts. However, the United States probably doesn’t believe so, as it completely decided to skip the mention of Taiwan in its statements.“President Xi stressed that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations. If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy. ‘Taiwan independence’ and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. Safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is the biggest common denominator between China and the US. The US side must exercise extra caution in handling the Taiwan question,” the statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry read.Since arriving in Beijing, Trump has not mentioned Taiwan even once and has even ignored multiple questions from reporters on the subject. The White House also decided to omit its mention.Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent jumped to his rescue, saying that Trump would speak more on Taiwan “in the coming days.”“It wouldn’t be a US-China summit without the Taiwan issue coming up,” Bessent, who is with Trump in China, told US business news network CNBC. He added, “I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from him in the coming days.”“President Trump understands the issues here and understands the sensitivities around all this. Anyone who has been saying otherwise does not understand the negotiating style of Donald Trump,” Bessant said.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing, but the US skipped Taiwan while China avoided mentioning Iran in their official statements.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held high-stakes talks in Beijing on Thursday (May 14). Following their “extremely positive” meeting, the US and China released their official statements on the views exchanged during the key discussions. While both hailed the meeting between the two leaders, they omitted the mention of certain claims made by each other. The summit comes amid heightened tensions over Iran and Taiwan, which remained one of the key focus points in the talks, along with trade tensions. White House on Iran In an official statement following the Trump-Xi talks, the White House said that the two leaders had a “good meeting”. Speaking of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, the statement read that the two sides agreed that the strait must remain open to support the free flow of energy. It added that Xi also emphasised China’s opposition to the militarisation of the strategic waterway and any tolls. According to the US statement, Xi also expressed interest in buying American oil. Both nations also agreed that Iran can never have nuclear weapons. “The two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy. President Xi also made clear China's opposition to the militarization of the Strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use, and he expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China's dependence on the Strait in the future. Both countries agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” the White House said. China’s statement on Iran Interestingly, China’s statement did not focus on Iran or even mention the country’s name in its official statement released by the foreign ministry. It also omitted any mention of the Strait of Hormuz or nukes. The lengthy statement talked about strengthening relations between the US and China in various sectors and fronts, from trade to diplomacy to military. The only slight mention of the conflict in the Middle East was that “the two presidents exchanged views on major international and regional issues, such as the Middle East situation, the Ukraine crisis, and the Korean Peninsula.” Later in the day, Trump claimed that Xi had offered China’s help to open the Strait of Hormuz as tensions continued in the Gulf region. He added that Xi has vowed not to send military equipment to aid Iran in its war against the US and Israel. “He said he's not going to give military equipment… he said that strongly,” Trump told the “Hannity” show on Fox News, following the talks between the two leaders in Beijing. “He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open, and said ‘if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help,’” Trump added. ‘Most important issue’ or not? In an unusual move, Xi gave a blunt warning to Trump over Taiwan in Thursday’s summit in Beijing, warning of a possible fallout between the two nations if the issue is not handled properly. According to the statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry, Xi stressed that Taiwan remains the “most important issue” between the US and China. China even warned the US to exercise “extra caution in handling the Taiwan question”, threatening clashes and conflicts. However, the United States probably doesn’t believe so, as it completely decided to skip the mention of Taiwan in its statements. “President Xi stressed that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations. If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy. ‘Taiwan independence’ and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. Safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is the biggest common denominator between China and the US. The US side must exercise extra caution in handling the Taiwan question,” the statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry read. Since arriving in Beijing, Trump has not mentioned Taiwan even once and has even ignored multiple questions from reporters on the subject. The White House also decided to omit its mention. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent jumped to his rescue, saying that Trump would speak more on Taiwan “in the coming days.” “It wouldn’t be a US-China summit without the Taiwan issue coming up,” Bessent, who is with Trump in China, told US business news network CNBC. He added, “I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from him in the coming days.” “President Trump understands the issues here and understands the sensitivities around all this. Anyone who has been saying otherwise does not understand the negotiating style of Donald Trump,” Bessant said.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing, but the US skipped Taiwan while China avoided mentioning Iran in their official statements.

Trump-Xi meet exposes gaps: China silent on Iran, US skips mentioning Taiwan

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (May 14) said that President Xi Jinping had offered China’s help to open the Strait of Hormuz as tensions continue in the Gulf region, crippling global energy supplies. He added that Xi has vowed not to send military equipment to aid Iran in its war against the US and Israel. This comes after the two leaders met in Beijing for the first time in a decade for a high-stakes summit.“He said he's not going to give military equipment… he said that strongly,” Trump told the “Hannity” show on Fox News, following the talks between the two leaders in Beijing.“He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open, and said ‘if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help,’” Trump added.Trump’s remarks come as tensions in the Gulf remain high, with both the US and Iran imposing blockades. The conflict has disrupted maritime security in the region, triggering a global energy crisis as oil prices soar.In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry said that the Middle East has been discussed, but did not share further details. Meanwhile, the White House said that both leaders agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy. It added that China has also agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. Although there was no such mention in the Chinese statement.“President Xi also made clear China's opposition to the militarisation of the Strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use, and he expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China's dependence on the Strait in the future. Both countries agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” the White House statement read.Following the talks, Trump called the meeting “extremely positive”, describing the evening ahead as “another cherished opportunity to discuss among friends”. Xi hailed the US President’s visit as “historic”, saying that the United States and China “should be partners” and not “rivals”.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping offered China’s help to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and pledged not to supply military equipment to Iran.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (May 14) said that President Xi Jinping had offered China’s help to open the Strait of Hormuz as tensions continue in the Gulf region, crippling global energy supplies. He added that Xi has vowed not to send military equipment to aid Iran in its war against the US and Israel. This comes after the two leaders met in Beijing for the first time in a decade for a high-stakes summit. “He said he's not going to give military equipment… he said that strongly,” Trump told the “Hannity” show on Fox News, following the talks between the two leaders in Beijing. “He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open, and said ‘if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help,’” Trump added. Trump’s remarks come as tensions in the Gulf remain high, with both the US and Iran imposing blockades. The conflict has disrupted maritime security in the region, triggering a global energy crisis as oil prices soar. In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry said that the Middle East has been discussed, but did not share further details. Meanwhile, the White House said that both leaders agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy. It added that China has also agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. Although there was no such mention in the Chinese statement. “President Xi also made clear China's opposition to the militarisation of the Strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use, and he expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China's dependence on the Strait in the future. Both countries agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” the White House statement read. Following the talks, Trump called the meeting “extremely positive”, describing the evening ahead as “another cherished opportunity to discuss among friends”. Xi hailed the US President’s visit as “historic”, saying that the United States and China “should be partners” and not “rivals”. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping offered China’s help to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and pledged not to supply military equipment to Iran.

Trump claims Xi offered help to open Hormuz, vowed China won’t arm Iran

US President Donald Trump’s talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have renewed focus on the rivalry between the two global powers. Check where they stand on technology, trade, military and other key sectors. 

Trump-Xi talks spotlight US-China battle for global dominance: Which country is bigger superpower?

China&nbsp;and the United States held a vice ministerial-level call on Friday, the second such contact in a week, achieving a "deep exchange of views" on trade imbalances and the protection of intellectual property, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said.

A statement posted on the ministry's website on Sunday said the two countries "made new progress" on those issues, without specifying further.

It also said&nbsp;China&nbsp;and the United States discussed arrangements for the next call and mutual visits.

On Wednesday, the ministry said Beijing and Washington had held a vice ministerial-level telephone call about trade and economic issues, without providing other details.

The calls took place amid signs of a thaw in a trade dispute between the United States and&nbsp;China, the world's two largest economies.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-us-president-marks-another-year-of-controversies-185674">US President Donald Trump</a> and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sino-india-ties-actively-moving-forward-president-xi-18570">Chinese President Xi Jinping</a> this month agreed to a truce that delayed the planned January 1 US&nbsp;increase of tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods while they negotiate a trade deal.

Chinese Commerce Ministry officials indicated earlier the two countries were in close contact over trade, and any US&nbsp;trade delegation would be welcome to visit.

China and the United States held a vice ministerial-level call on Friday, the second such contact in a week, achieving a "deep exchange of views" on trade imbalances and the protection of intellectual property, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said.

China and the United States held a vice ministerial-level call on Friday, the second such contact in a week, achieving a "deep exchange of views" on trade imbalances and the protection of intellectual property, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said. A statement posted on the ministry's website on Sunday said the two countries "made new progress" on those issues, without specifying further. It also said China and the United States discussed arrangements for the next call and mutual visits. On Wednesday, the ministry said Beijing and Washington had held a vice ministerial-level telephone call about trade and economic issues, without providing other details. The calls took place amid signs of a thaw in a trade dispute between the United States and China, the world's two largest economies. US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping this month agreed to a truce that delayed the planned January 1 US increase of tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods while they negotiate a trade deal. Chinese Commerce Ministry officials indicated earlier the two countries were in close contact over trade, and any US trade delegation would be welcome to visit.

China says it held second vice ministerial call with US on trade

US President Donald Trump decried his country&#39;s &quot;one-sided and unfair&quot; trade deficit with Beijing on Thursday Thursday, but he told President Xi Jinping: &quot;I don&#39;t blame China.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;After all, who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for the sake of its citizens?&quot; he said during a signing ceremony for over $250 billion in US-Chinese business deals.&nbsp;

The deals range from billions in Chinese soybean imports to major projects like the development and export of liquified natural gas from Alaska.&nbsp;

Speaking after talks with his Chinese counterpart, Trump said that China has to take greater action on market access, forced technology transfers and theft of intellectual property.&nbsp;

&quot;We have to fix this because it just doesn&#39;t work, for our great American companies, and it doesn&rsquo;t work for our great American workers,&quot; he said. 
 
Xi delivered a brief speech following Trump&#39;s remarks, where he said China welcomed the international business community.&nbsp;

&quot;To keep opening up is our long-term strategy. We will not narrow or close our doors. We will open wider and wider,&quot; Xi said.

&quot;I will encourage Chinese businesses to do more investment in US and at the same time, invite more US companies to take part in One Belt One Road,&quot; Xi added.&nbsp;

He was referring to China&#39;s Silk Road project to revive ancient trade routes with a massive network of rail and maritime links.&nbsp;

Annually, the US runs a steep trade deficit in goods with China of about $350 billion. 
 
After the signing ceremony, China&#39;s commerce minister Zhong Shan praised the deals as &quot;truly a miracle, not just in the history of US-China relations, but in the history of the whole world&quot;.

But some analysts say any large deals will do little to shift the overall balance of trade unless the structural barriers preventing US businesses from competing fairly in China are changed.

The gas deal between the state of Alaska, Alaska Gasline Development Corp, China Petrochemical Corp (Sinopec), China Investment Corporation (CIC) and the Bank of China involves a total investment of up to $43 billion.

Official said the joint development agreement will create up to 12,000 American jobs and reduce the trade deficit between the United States and Asia by $10 billion annually.

In turn, it will provide China with clean and affordable energy.

US, China announced over $250 bn in business deals during Trump's visit

US President Donald Trump decried his country's "one-sided and unfair" trade deficit with Beijing on Thursday Thursday, but he told President Xi Jinping: "I don't blame China." "After all, who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for the sake of its citizens?" he said during a signing ceremony for over $250 billion in US-Chinese business deals. The deals range from billions in Chinese soybean imports to major projects like the development and export of liquified natural gas from Alaska. Speaking after talks with his Chinese counterpart, Trump said that China has to take greater action on market access, forced technology transfers and theft of intellectual property. "We have to fix this because it just doesn't work, for our great American companies, and it doesn’t work for our great American workers," he said. Xi delivered a brief speech following Trump's remarks, where he said China welcomed the international business community. "To keep opening up is our long-term strategy. We will not narrow or close our doors. We will open wider and wider," Xi said. "I will encourage Chinese businesses to do more investment in US and at the same time, invite more US companies to take part in One Belt One Road," Xi added. He was referring to China's Silk Road project to revive ancient trade routes with a massive network of rail and maritime links. Annually, the US runs a steep trade deficit in goods with China of about $350 billion. After the signing ceremony, China's commerce minister Zhong Shan praised the deals as "truly a miracle, not just in the history of US-China relations, but in the history of the whole world". But some analysts say any large deals will do little to shift the overall balance of trade unless the structural barriers preventing US businesses from competing fairly in China are changed. The gas deal between the state of Alaska, Alaska Gasline Development Corp, China Petrochemical Corp (Sinopec), China Investment Corporation (CIC) and the Bank of China involves a total investment of up to $43 billion. Official said the joint development agreement will create up to 12,000 American jobs and reduce the trade deficit between the United States and Asia by $10 billion annually. In turn, it will provide China with clean and affordable energy.

Trump says trade surplus unfair, but 'I don't blame China'

President Donald Trump congratulated Xi Jinping on Wednesday after the Chinese leader solidified his grip on power at a landmark Communist Party Congress.

&quot;Spoke to President Xi of China to congratulate him on his extraordinary elevation. Also discussed NoKo &amp; trade, two very important subjects!&quot; Trump tweeted after the call.

The phone call came as Xi was formally handed a second term in power and his doctrine was written into the party constitution -- putting him on par with the nation&#39;s founder Mao Zedong.

The party meeting also saw the Chinese leader fuel speculation about how long he will remain in the post by not anointing a possible successor to take over in five years&#39; time.

&quot;He&#39;s a powerful man,&quot; Trump said of Xi.&nbsp;

&quot;I happen to think he&#39;s a very good person,&quot; he told the Fox Business news channel.

&quot;Some people might call him the king of China, but he&#39;s called president. But we have a very good relationship, and that&#39;s a positive thing, and it would be good to have that relationship with Russia and other countries too,&quot; he added.

China&#39;s state-run news agency Xinhua reported that Xi expressed a desire to work with Trump to &quot;jointly blueprint future development of China-US ties.&quot;

Trump is expected to meet the Chinese leader during a state visit to China early next month.

That is part of a broader Asia trip likely to be dominated by concerns about North Korea&#39;s ballistic and nuclear programs.

Successive White Houses have viewed Xi&#39;s meteoric rise to become China&#39;s most powerful leader since Deng Xiaoping with cautious optimism.

They hope it will lead to more streamlined decision making and see benefits in having an interlocutor who can afford to take some risks domestically.

A senior aide to Trump said &quot;the president has a very good working relationship with Xi Jinping. He wants to continue building on what the president terms a constructive and results-oriented relationship.&quot;

&quot;The 19th Party Congress provides the opportunity for us to get some things done in the relationship to put us on a good footing deep into the future.&quot;

 
&nbsp;

China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported that Xi expressed a desire to work with Trump to 'jointly blueprint future development of China-US ties'

President Donald Trump congratulated Xi Jinping on Wednesday after the Chinese leader solidified his grip on power at a landmark Communist Party Congress. "Spoke to President Xi of China to congratulate him on his extraordinary elevation. Also discussed NoKo & trade, two very important subjects!" Trump tweeted after the call. The phone call came as Xi was formally handed a second term in power and his doctrine was written into the party constitution -- putting him on par with the nation's founder Mao Zedong. The party meeting also saw the Chinese leader fuel speculation about how long he will remain in the post by not anointing a possible successor to take over in five years' time. "He's a powerful man," Trump said of Xi. "I happen to think he's a very good person," he told the Fox Business news channel. "Some people might call him the king of China, but he's called president. But we have a very good relationship, and that's a positive thing, and it would be good to have that relationship with Russia and other countries too," he added. China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported that Xi expressed a desire to work with Trump to "jointly blueprint future development of China-US ties." Trump is expected to meet the Chinese leader during a state visit to China early next month. That is part of a broader Asia trip likely to be dominated by concerns about North Korea's ballistic and nuclear programs. Successive White Houses have viewed Xi's meteoric rise to become China's most powerful leader since Deng Xiaoping with cautious optimism. They hope it will lead to more streamlined decision making and see benefits in having an interlocutor who can afford to take some risks domestically. A senior aide to Trump said "the president has a very good working relationship with Xi Jinping. He wants to continue building on what the president terms a constructive and results-oriented relationship." "The 19th Party Congress provides the opportunity for us to get some things done in the relationship to put us on a good footing deep into the future."

Trump congratulates Xi after Chinese leader tightens grip on power

President Donald Trump predicted a &quot;very great&quot; relationship with China&#39;s Xi Jinping as the pair met for the first time at his Florida resort of Mar-a-Lago Thursday, when cordiality replaced tough anti-China rhetoric.

Trump, in his signature red tie, warmly welcomed his Chinese counterpart Xi, decked out in contrasting blue, to what the US leader likes to call the &quot;Winter White House&quot; for a superpower summit in the sun.

Inside the luxurious resort Trump waxed lyrical that it was a &quot;great honour&quot; to host the Chinese leader, breaking the ice with a joke about his own dealmaking prowess.

&quot;We had a long discussion already. So far, I have gotten nothing. Absolutely nothing,&quot; he said to laughs from the delegation. &nbsp;

&quot;But I can see that, I think long-term, we are going to have a very, very great relationship and I look very much forward to it.&quot;

This is the first time the two leaders meet, after a US election that featured frequent barbs at China&#39;s &quot;rape&quot; of the US economy.

During that campaign Trump had ridiculed his predecessor&#39;s decision to offer Xi a coveted state dinner, saying that -- if elected -- he would serve the 63-year-old a Big Mac.

But inside Mar-a-Lago&#39;s ornate dining room -- with gold-trimmed chairs, fine cut glass and polished silverware -- it was Dover sole with champagne sauce and New York strip steak with whipped potatoes rather than McDonald&#39;s on the menu.

The open agenda and the personal setting for the 24-hour summit are designed to allow the leaders to freewheel and build a rapport, in what is the world&#39;s most important relationship.

Amid concerns about security and public perceptions, Xi and his wife are not staying at Mar-a-Lago, but at a resort and spa a short drive down the palm-fringed coast that is, for now, watched by snipers, tactical units and a coastguard cutter.

The two leaders were joined Thursday evening by US first lady and former model Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan -- a celebrated folk singer who Trump hailed as a &quot;great, great celebrity.&quot;

Talks will continue up to a working lunch on Friday, and are likely to turn to more serious issues.

The summit has been somewhat overshadowed by renewed missile tests in North Korea and possible US military action in response to an apparent chemical attack in Syria.

The UN Security Council &nbsp;-- where both China and the United States hold a veto -- is holding crisis talks to discuss a response to Bashar al-Assad&#39;s Syrian regime.

Peace offerings&nbsp;

Xi had arrived to the meeting with a gift basket of &quot;tweetable deliverables,&quot; sources say, peace offerings on Trump&#39;s signature issues -- trade and jobs -- that he hopes will smooth over a relationship that began on shaky ground following disagreements over Taiwan.

Top of the list, according to a source briefed on Xi&#39;s plans, will be a package of Chinese investments aimed at creating more than 700,000 American jobs -- the number pledged to Trump by China&#39;s regional rival Japan, during Prime Minister Shinzo Abe&#39;s February Mar-a-Lago visit.

There may also be offers to further open China&#39;s auto and agricultural markets, insiders say, and even some concessions on Chinese banks&#39; transactions with North Korea, a vital financial lifeline for the country.

In return, Xi hopes to get assurances from Trump on punitive tariffs and that an American arms sale to Taiwan will be delayed, at least until after a major Communist Party meeting later this year.

Trump&#39;s position on democratically-ruled Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province, has been a major irritant since the billionaire politician accepted a protocol-breaking phone call from the Taiwanese president after his election victory.

All politics is local&nbsp;

The summit stakes, both domestic and international, are high.

Disagreements over approaches to North Korea or bilateral trade could, if mishandled, destabilize North East Asia or tank the global economy.

On the domestic political front, Xi is heading into a critical year. Ahead of a party congress that could cement his grip on power for years to come, he needs to show that he can deal with the US leader as an equal.

He &quot;cannot afford to lose face while China aspires to be the new center of gravity for the world order,&quot; China political analyst Willy Lam told AFP.

Meanwhile, Trump -- who is reeling from legislative defeats, low approval ratings and unrelenting scandals --&nbsp;desperately needs a win.&nbsp;

On the US side, however, North Korea will likely top the agenda following Wednesday&#39;s provocative missile launch.

The Trump White House worries Pyongyang is just months away from marrying nuclear and long-range missile technology and putting the west coast of the United States within striking distance.

While Beijing has condemned the missile tests, it has hesitated to take dramatic action against Pyongyang, fearing that the country&#39;s collapse would generate a flood of refugees across its borders and leave the US military on its doorstep.

(AFP)

The US and Chinese presidents meet for the first time amid Trump's several jibes and anger aimed at Beijing

President Donald Trump predicted a "very great" relationship with China's Xi Jinping as the pair met for the first time at his Florida resort of Mar-a-Lago Thursday, when cordiality replaced tough anti-China rhetoric. Trump, in his signature red tie, warmly welcomed his Chinese counterpart Xi, decked out in contrasting blue, to what the US leader likes to call the "Winter White House" for a superpower summit in the sun. Inside the luxurious resort Trump waxed lyrical that it was a "great honour" to host the Chinese leader, breaking the ice with a joke about his own dealmaking prowess. "We had a long discussion already. So far, I have gotten nothing. Absolutely nothing," he said to laughs from the delegation. "But I can see that, I think long-term, we are going to have a very, very great relationship and I look very much forward to it." This is the first time the two leaders meet, after a US election that featured frequent barbs at China's "rape" of the US economy. During that campaign Trump had ridiculed his predecessor's decision to offer Xi a coveted state dinner, saying that -- if elected -- he would serve the 63-year-old a Big Mac. But inside Mar-a-Lago's ornate dining room -- with gold-trimmed chairs, fine cut glass and polished silverware -- it was Dover sole with champagne sauce and New York strip steak with whipped potatoes rather than McDonald's on the menu. The open agenda and the personal setting for the 24-hour summit are designed to allow the leaders to freewheel and build a rapport, in what is the world's most important relationship. Amid concerns about security and public perceptions, Xi and his wife are not staying at Mar-a-Lago, but at a resort and spa a short drive down the palm-fringed coast that is, for now, watched by snipers, tactical units and a coastguard cutter. The two leaders were joined Thursday evening by US first lady and former model Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan -- a celebrated folk singer who Trump hailed as a "great, great celebrity." Talks will continue up to a working lunch on Friday, and are likely to turn to more serious issues. The summit has been somewhat overshadowed by renewed missile tests in North Korea and possible US military action in response to an apparent chemical attack in Syria. The UN Security Council -- where both China and the United States hold a veto -- is holding crisis talks to discuss a response to Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime. Peace offerings Xi had arrived to the meeting with a gift basket of "tweetable deliverables," sources say, peace offerings on Trump's signature issues -- trade and jobs -- that he hopes will smooth over a relationship that began on shaky ground following disagreements over Taiwan. Top of the list, according to a source briefed on Xi's plans, will be a package of Chinese investments aimed at creating more than 700,000 American jobs -- the number pledged to Trump by China's regional rival Japan, during Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's February Mar-a-Lago visit. There may also be offers to further open China's auto and agricultural markets, insiders say, and even some concessions on Chinese banks' transactions with North Korea, a vital financial lifeline for the country. In return, Xi hopes to get assurances from Trump on punitive tariffs and that an American arms sale to Taiwan will be delayed, at least until after a major Communist Party meeting later this year. Trump's position on democratically-ruled Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province, has been a major irritant since the billionaire politician accepted a protocol-breaking phone call from the Taiwanese president after his election victory. All politics is local The summit stakes, both domestic and international, are high. Disagreements over approaches to North Korea or bilateral trade could, if mishandled, destabilize North East Asia or tank the global economy. On the domestic political front, Xi is heading into a critical year. Ahead of a party congress that could cement his grip on power for years to come, he needs to show that he can deal with the US leader as an equal. He "cannot afford to lose face while China aspires to be the new center of gravity for the world order," China political analyst Willy Lam told AFP. Meanwhile, Trump -- who is reeling from legislative defeats, low approval ratings and unrelenting scandals -- desperately needs a win. On the US side, however, North Korea will likely top the agenda following Wednesday's provocative missile launch. The Trump White House worries Pyongyang is just months away from marrying nuclear and long-range missile technology and putting the west coast of the United States within striking distance. While Beijing has condemned the missile tests, it has hesitated to take dramatic action against Pyongyang, fearing that the country's collapse would generate a flood of refugees across its borders and leave the US military on its doorstep. (AFP)

Trump bins sharp anti-China rhetoric to host Xi with 'great honour'

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