Opinion: Xi and Trump learn to split the difference on trade and North Korea
The presidents of China and the US steer their countries through compromise away from destructive escalation
The summit between the world’s two most powerful leaders was surprisingly amicable and constructive. Both sides managed to stick to the script, projecting a shared commitment to responsibly manage their relations.
US President Donald Trump and his Chinese guest, President Xi Jinping, seemed cordial, subdued and focused on the difficult task of navigating the most consequential bilateral relationship of the century. The meeting was also partly overshadowed by the White House’s decision to bombard Syrian bases in an apparent punishment of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime’s alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians.
As the Tomahawk missiles pulverised Syrian targets, Trump and Xi gently wined and dined at Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Unlike Trump’s meeting with Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe, there was no golfing with Xi, who has banned Chinese officials from the sport as part of a crackdown on corruption.
And contrary to Trump’s campaign promise, there were no Big Macs on the evening menu, but instead a lavish feast. Both leaders conducted themselves with professionalism and relative ease. Undoubtedly, this was a huge let-down for those expecting a more dramatic encounter. After all, ahead of the summit, Trump openly fretted about a “very difficult” meeting with his Chinese counterpart.
