Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that he and U.S. President Donald Trump should guide the direction of bilateral ties.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Trump after landing in Busan for the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and a state visit to the Republic of Korea.
Xi noted that since Trump’s reelection, they have spoken on the phone three times, exchanged several letters and stayed in close contact.
“Under our joint guidance, China-U.S. relations have remained stable on the whole,” Xi said.
Xi recalled that a few days ago, in the latest round of consultation in Kuala Lumpur, the two sides’ economic and trade teams reached basic consensus on addressing their respective major concerns.
This provided the necessary conditions for the meeting with Trump, Xi added.
“Given our different national conditions, we do not always see eye to eye with each other. And it is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have frictions now and then,” said Xi.
“You and I are at the helm of China-U.S. relations. In the face of winds, waves and challenges, we should stay the right course, navigate through the complex landscape, and ensure the steady sailing forward of the giantship of China-U.S. relations,” Xi told Trump.
