Xi Jinping Says US and China Reach New Trade Deal, Urges Prudent Handling of Taiwan Issue

▲ Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House. (Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a summit with the United States in Washington, D.C., that the two countries have reached a new trade agreement and must continue to expand cooperation.

Xi urged the U.S. to handle the Taiwan issue prudently, which Beijing considers a core interest, while also discussing issues concerning the Korean Peninsula.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television (CCTV) today (September 25), President Xi stated during his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., on the local date of September 24, "The economic and trade teams of both sides have reached a new consensus." He added, "This is good news for the industrial sectors and peoples of both countries, as well as for the global economy."

Xi emphasized during the meeting that "cooperation is a two-way street," noting, "To ensure stability in China-U.S. economic and trade relations, we must expand the list of cooperation while reducing the list of issues."

He went on to say, "I hope both sides will move toward each other by making concessions and pursuing mutual benefits, so as to promote the sustained, stable, and positive development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations."

Regarding the Taiwan issue, which China has long defined as an inviolable red line, Xi repeatedly requested prudent handling from the U.S. side.

"We hope the U.S. side will uphold the correct position of opposing 'Taiwan independence,' handle the Taiwan issue prudently, and lay a solid foundation for strategic cooperation and the development of bilateral relations between China and the U.S.," Xi stressed, adding, "China's position on safeguarding national reunification and territorial integrity is very clear."

China views Taiwan as "the core of its core interests" and has strongly protested U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

Turning to the war in Iran, Xi urged the U.S. and Iran to resolve the issue through negotiations.

"China has consistently maintained that the sovereignty and security of all nations must be respected, and has played a constructive role in easing tensions," Xi said, expressing support for a return to the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)" signed by the U.S. and Iran in June, which included a framework for ending the war.

He emphasized, "We hope both sides will promptly return to the track of dialogue and negotiation to resolve the issue, ultimately achieve a comprehensive agreement including the nuclear issue, and secure peace at an early date."

Addressing the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, where Beijing and Washington have failed to narrow their differences over regulatory issues, Xi asserted, "Both China and the U.S. are major AI powers. Competition exists between us, but cooperation is also possible. Rather than guarding against and defending against each other, we should leverage our respective strengths."

Xi further noted, "Both sides should maintain AI dialogue, exchange views on risks and benefits, and jointly prevent misuse and abuse." He added, "We must maintain human control over AI technology, adhere to a people-oriented and benevolent approach, and ensure that AI contributes to human development."

Highlighting that it is unprecedented for the leaders of the two countries to realize mutual visits in less than half a year, Xi emphasized, "I want to maintain communication with President Trump in various ways and jointly guide and steer the great ship of China-U.S. relations."

Xinhua reported that the two leaders also exchanged views on "major international and regional issues," including the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East situation, and the Ukraine crisis, though specific details of the discussions were not made public.

Xinhua also reported that President Trump praised President Xi's state visit to the U.S. as a "great visit," quoting him as saying, "The United States and China are both major powers, and President Xi and I maintain deep and close communication as good friends."

Trump also stated, "Under our leadership, China-U.S. relations will surely do well," adding that "the economic and trade teams of both countries have carried out new consultations and achieved new outcomes, and both sides must continue dialogue to forge a better agreement."

He further noted, "Because AI is an issue concerning the future of humanity, China and the U.S. must continue dialogue and strengthen cooperation on this matter."

At a state dinner hosted by President Trump, Xi delivered a friendly message emphasizing cooperation and exchanges between the two nations, without mentioning the Taiwan issue or the Iran war.

According to Xinhua, Xi said in his dinner speech, "China-U.S. relations have reached another historical turning point." He stressed, "We must demonstrate the responsibilities of major powers, live up to the expectations of our peoples and the major trends of the times, and explore a new path for getting along with each other correctly."

Xi explained, "President Trump and I had a candid and in-depth exchange today and reached many new common understandings." He added, "This enriches the substance of the China-U.S. 'constructive strategic stability' relationship and provides new strategic guidance for bilateral ties."

Recalling that "over 50 years ago, the ping-pong diplomacy between China and the United States knocked open the long-closed door of exchanges," Xi said that people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries have laid a public foundation for promoting communication and friendly cooperation between their peoples.

"Over 80 years ago, our peoples fought shoulder to shoulder against Japanese militarist aggressors," Xi said, recalling the period in the 1940s when the two nations formed a united front against Japan, and emphasizing that "this friendship, forged in blood and fire, must be passed down from generation to generation."

Furthermore, suggesting that President Trump's "Make America Great Again" and China's modernization drive can fully assist each other's achievements, he proposed, "Let us join hands and move forward together to cultivate the beautiful flower of China-U.S. friendship and write a new chapter together."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

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