The meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping: Has the wind changed direction?

Donald Trump's visit will open up an opportunity for China and the US to review the achievements in bilateral relations.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on the afternoon of November 8, starting a three-day visit to China. The visit took place in the context of Chinese public opinion and media stating that this meeting between the leaders of the US and China is "an important and historic meeting" and the most notable meeting during President Trump's 12-day visit to Asia.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in the US in April 2017. Photo: Reuters.

China is the third stop after Japan and South Korea in President Donald Trump's visit to Asia. This is also the first state visit to China since Trump took office and he also has the honor of being the first foreign head of state to visit China since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The visit will provide an opportunity for China and the United States to review the achievements in bilateral relations and outline further steps to strengthen them. The resolution of the North Korean nuclear and missile issues and trade are high on the agenda.

“President Trump really appreciates the cooperation and support he has received from China in addressing the threat from North Korea,” said US Ambassador to China Terry Branstad. “We are tightening sanctions, but I think we need to do more. It is up to the US and Chinese leaders to work together and lead the rest of the world to stop the threat from North Korea.”

Trade is also important. The United States and China are two great powers with different backgrounds and important challenges to overcome. But by working together, the United States and China can make great progress, and if successful, it will benefit the whole world.

Although this is the first official state visit to China, this will be the third meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping this year.

During the summit at the US resort of Mar-a-Lago last April, the two leaders decided to establish four high-level dialogue mechanisms including diplomatic and security dialogue, comprehensive economic dialogue, law enforcement and cyber security dialogue, social dialogue and people-to-people exchange.

The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in many areas and maintain high-level exchanges during the second meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany in July this year.

Ahead of his visit to China, US President Donald Trump congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on the results of the recent 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The US leader affirmed that he is looking forward to meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During his two-day visit to South Korea, President Donald Trump also said that Chinese President Xi Jinping had been “very helpful” in resolving the North Korea issue. This seems to be contrary to the usual practice when Mr. Trump often criticizes China on two issues: trade and North Korea, although he highly values ​​his personal relationship with President Xi Jinping.

Analysts said Mr. Trump's attitude was part of an effort to create a positive atmosphere ahead of complex negotiations on China's huge trade surplus with the US, as well as China's economic relationship with North Korea./.

According to VOV