The President of China, Xi Jinping, defended this Thursday (30) that Beijing and Washington are “partners and friends”, when opening his meeting with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in Busan, South Korea.
The meeting marks the first face-to-face contact between the two leaders since the beginning of Trump’s second term in January, and comes amid an escalation of trade and technological tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
During the meeting, Trump said he expected a “very successful meeting” and praised Xi, whom he called a “tough negotiator”, but with whom he said he maintained a “good relationship”. Asked about the possibility of a new trade agreement, the Republican replied that “it could be”, indicating optimism about progress in negotiations.
FREE TOOL
XP simulator
Find out in 1 minute how much your money can yield
Xi, in turn, stated that it was “normal for the world’s two main economies to have friction”, but defended joint efforts to ensure the “constant advancement of the giant ship” of bilateral relations.
The meeting takes place at a time of strong economic dispute. Washington seeks to limit China’s access to strategic technologies and is pushing for measures against the flow of fentanyl and the sale of TikTok’s US operation.
Beijing responded with new controls on exports of rare minerals, but also showed signs of easing by resuming purchases of American soybeans for the first time in months, according to the agency. Reuters.
Continues after advertising
Shortly before the meeting, Trump made waves when he announced on Truth Social that he had ordered the resumption of nuclear testing in the US, a gesture seen as an attempt to demonstrate strength ahead of the negotiations.
The meeting between Trump and Xi takes place during the Chinese leader’s official visit to South Korea, his first in 11 years, to participate in the APEC economic leaders’ meeting in Gyeongju.
