Trump and Xi Exchange Words of Friendship and Cooperation, Covering Differences from Taiwan to AI

The presidents of the world’s two most powerful countries sublimated hostility Thursday, and avoided contentious issues, in a show of good will. However, the daylight between President Trump and Communist China’s Xi Jinping shone through in their opening remarks, before they settled into a closed-door conversation in the White House in a summit that both of them clearly hope will head off the threat of an open conflict, at least for now.Beneath calls for a close friendship and cooperation, Mr. Xi all but acknowledged the acrimony that besets relations between Washington and Beijing, saying both countries “stand to gain from cooperation and will both lose in confrontation.”In a statement distributed in English translation by Xinhua, the state news agency, Mr. Xi said, “We do not need to avoid mentioning competition, but our competition should be a healthy one and should be kept within bounds.”Rather than engage in “a wrestle in which one either wins or loses,” he called for “a race of catching up with one another.” The two countries “must hold the line of no conflict and no confrontation” in pursuit of “the right path for our two great countries to get along on this planet we both call home.”Mr. Xi hinted at the danger of armed clashes as Washington opposes China’s claims to almost the entire South China Sea and harasses Free Taiwan with naval and air exercises underlining China’s persistent claims to the independent island province.“Our two militaries should maintain regular dialogue, and improve mechanisms for crisis communication and prevention,” he said.Mr. Trump, in his welcoming remarks, was more personally effusive than Mr. Xi, claiming to “have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually, built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people.”At stake in their talks was whether Mr. Xi could talk Mr. Trump into sharply reducing if not calling off American military aid for Taiwan. Congress has approved the sale of more than $10 bilion in arms, but Mr. Trump has not signed off on the deal.It’s assumed that Mr. Trump is playing the arms deal as a bargaining chip in persuading China to buy far more American products, both industrial and agricultural, whiole decreasing exports, on which he’s composed at least 15 percent tariffs.Washington has not had formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan since President Carter transferred recognition to Beijing in 1978 but has repeatedly expressed its “commitment” to the defense of the island, where several hundred American military advisers are working secretly with Taiwan armed forces. Taiwan leaders fear he may reduce support for America’s oft-stated “commitment” to the island’s defense.One topic on which Mr. Trump is not likely to yield is artificial intelligence — or “super intelligence,” as Mr. Trump calls it. Although SI “will be a big topic of discussion, he said, “I want to leave it exactly where it is.”It was appearances that counted for much of Mr. Xi’s visit. He wound up his remarks by announcing an invitation for 100,000 “young Americans to visit China for exchanges and study in the coming five years.”Nor did he forget the charm of “panda diplomacy.“The giant panda has been an envoy of friendship between the Chinese and Americans,” he said. “In a few days, two pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, will come to their new home in Zoo Atlanta and meet with the American people.”

Trump and Xi Exchange Words of Friendship and Cooperation, Covering Differences from Taiwan to AI

Trump and Xi Exchange Words of Friendship and Cooperation, Covering Differences from Taiwan to AI

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