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Donald Trump met Xi Jinping in Beijing, praised him and called for a fantastic future, as Xi urged China and the US to be partners not rivals.
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with China’s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Source: AFP)
United States President Donald Trump on Thursday called Chinese President Xi Jinping “a great leader”, in response to which Xi Jinping said that the two countries should be “partners and not rivals”, as the two leaders met in Beijing for a superpower summit, which is set to address thorny issues including Iran war, trade and Taiwan.
Xi welcomed Trump with a handshake at the opulent Great Hall of the People amid a grand reception that belies the deep tensions between the world’s biggest economies.
‘You Are A Great Leader, We Have A Fantastic Future Together’
While greeting Xi, Trump said, “You are a great leader. People don’t like me saying that..but I say it anyway because it’s true.”
Trump said to Xi that the two superpowers would have a “fantastic future together” as the leaders met for talks in Beijing.
“It’s an honour to be with you. It’s an honour to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before,” said Trump, at the meeting in the Great Hall of the People. He said that it is an “honour like few I’ve ever seen before”.
‘We Should Be Partners, Not Rivals’
Responding to Trump’s gesture, Xi said, “The whole world is watching our meeting.
Chinese leader Jinping said to Trump that the two countries should be “partners and not rivals”.
“A stable China-US relationship is a boon for the world. Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both. We should be partners and not rivals,” Xi said.
Xi further said that he was “happy” to receive Trump for the US leader’s first trip to China since 2017, as “the world has arrived at a new crossroads.”
Xi Greets Trump At The Great Hall Of The People
Xi hosted Trump at Beijing’s grand Great Hall of the People with an elaborate welcome ceremony, masking the sharp strains that continue to define ties between the world’s two largest economies.
Also Read: Iran, Taiwan, AI, And Trade: Five Key Issues Driving The Trump-Xi Meeting In China
Xi also met several US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pentagon Peter Hegseth, who have remained as fierce opponents of Beijing throughout their careers.
Trump and Xi stood in the centre as The Star-Spangled Banner, and then the Chinese national anthem was played by the Chinese military amid firing by cannons.
Schoolchildren, donning brightly coloured outfits, waved US and Chinese flags, and chanted “welcome, welcome”.
The two leaders are set to take part in a state banquet at the hall in the evening.
Trump will also visit the historic Temple of Heaven, which is a World Heritage site. During ancient times, China’s emperors used to pray at this temple for a good harvest.
The US president landed in Beijing aboard Air Force One late Wednesday for a two-day summit, accompanied by several top business leaders, including Jensen Huang and Elon Musk, underscoring Trump’s push for major commercial deals during the visit.
The Beijing trip is the first by a sitting US president in nearly a decade. Trump had last visited China in 2017, when he was accompanied by former First Lady Melania Trump, unlike this visit.
(With inputs from AFP)
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