Trump, Xi discuss trade, rare earths

Express Tribune

18 hours ago

US President Donald Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping at the start of their bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019.PHOTO: REUTERS
US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping confronted weeks of brewing trade tensions and a battle over critical minerals in a rare leader-to-leader call on Thursday that left key issues to further talks.
During the more than one-hour-long call, Xi told Trump to back down from trade measures that roiled the global economy and warned him against threatening steps on Taiwan, according to a Chinese government summary.
"The US side should take a realistic view of the progress made and withdraw the negative measures imposed on China," the Chinese government said in a statement summarizing Xi's call with Trump published by the state-run Xinhua news agency.
"Xi Jinping emphasized that the United States should handle the Taiwan issue prudently."
But Trump said on social media that the talks focused primarily on trade led to "a very positive conclusion," announcing further lower-level US-China discussions, and that "there should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products".
He later told reporters: "We're in very good shape with China and the trade deal." The leaders also invited each other to visit their respective countries. The highly anticipated call came in the middle of a dispute between Washington and Beijing in recent weeks over "rare earths" minerals that threatened to tear up a fragile truce in the trade war between the two biggest economies.
It was not clear from either countries' statements that the issue had been resolved. A US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet with their Chinese counterparts "shortly at a location to be determined", Trump said on social media.
Major US stock indexes were higher on Thursday.
The Chinese ministry said President Xi pointed out that recalibrating the direction of the giant ship of China-US relations requires us to take the helm and set the right course. "It is particularly important to steer clear of the various disturbances and disruptions."
The Chinese always honor and deliver what has been promised. Both sides should make good on the agreement reached in Geneva.
In fact, China has been seriously and earnestly executing the agreement. The US side should acknowledge the progress already made, and remove the negative measures taken against China.
The two sides should enhance communication in such fields as foreign affairs, economy and trade, military, and law enforcement to build consensus, clear up misunderstandings, and strengthen cooperation.
President Xi emphasised that the United States must handle the Taiwan question with prudence, so that the fringe separatists bent on "Taiwan independence" will not be able to drag China and America into the dangerous terrain of confrontation and even conflict.
President Trump said that he has great respect for President Xi, and the US-China relationship is very important. The US wants the Chinese economy to do very well. The US and China working together can get a lot of great things done. The US will honor the One-China policy.
The meeting in Geneva was very successful, and produced a good deal. The US will work with China to execute the deal. The US loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America.
President Xi welcomed President Trump to visit China again, for which President Trump expressed heartfelt appreciation. The two Presidents agreed that their teams should continue implementing the Geneva agreement and hold another round of meeting as soon as possible.