“Two diametrically opposed empires, led by two antagonistic personalities, will try, during a meeting, to prevent the flames of a world in transition from transforming into an uncontrollable inferno…sums up gravely The Country.
This meeting, described by the international press as “decisiveâ€, “strategicâ€, “Haut risqueâ€? et “huge stakes†began Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. in France) in front of the People’s Palace, on Tiananmen Square, with “a ceremonial fanfare†and a military magazine “minutieusement chorégraphieâ€emphasizing “the importance that both sides attach to this visit, even as expectations for major breakthroughs remain cautiousâ€observe Channel News Asia (CNA).
The two men appeared relaxed, exchanging pleasantries and comments – the word “wonderful†was uttered by Donald Trump on several occasions, it seems – and the tenant of the White House seemed particularly enchanted by the spectacle of dozens of children jumping with bouquets of flowers to the cries of “Bienvenueâ€
The American and Chinese delegations entered the People’s Palace shortly before 10:30 a.m. and took their places around a huge table, for the first bilateral exchange on the menu of Donald Trump’s official visit to China – the first in nine years for an American president. The billionaire arrived In Beijing on Wednesday evening, and must leave for the United States on Friday.
“Partners, not rivalsâ€
At the opening of the discussions, Xi told Trump, sitting directly opposite him: “We should be partners, not rivals, striving for mutual success, prospering together, and charting the right path for major countries in the new era to live together…reports NBCNews.
Trump greeted them in return “fantastic relationship†and claimed to experience “tremendous respect†for Xi and for China, calling the latter a “great leaderâ€specifies the American channel. “He added that the American delegation was happy to address the issue of reciprocal trade….
On the other hand, the two men carefully avoided mentioning the war in Iran in their opening remarks, undoubtedly reserving the subject for their closed-door discussions. Because besides “a wide range of thorny topics, including business and technologyâ€the Iranian conflict should “planner sur la reunionâ€Donald Trump voulant “encourage Xi to put pressure on Tehran†to find a way out of the war, note CNN.
The American president also praised his delegation – composed entirely of men, like the Chinese delegation – which included his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and his minister of Defense, Pete Hegseth.
Taiwan, Beijing’s “absolute priorityâ€
This summit “could determine whether the détente that has prevailed between the two superpowers will continue, as well as the concessions, if any, that each side is prepared to makeâ€analyse The New York Times.
For the American daily, the “absolute priority†de Xi Jinping reste Taïwan, “the issue most likely to spark a war between the two superpowersâ€. Xi could try to persuade Trump to “break with long-standing U.S. policy, by leading him to declare that he opposes Taiwan’s independenceâ€.
An objective which is a challenge, recognizes everyday life, but the Chinese leader “has a significant advantage: the economic leverage that China has over Tehran, as well as the prospect that it could potentially contribute to reopening the strait [d'Ormuz] and to mitigate the economic fallout of the war, which continues to grow….
But the official Chinese speech, relayed by the Global Timeswants to be very conciliatory and optimistic, ensuring that the two countries are moving “towards mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperationâ€. For the daily linked to the Chinese Communist Party, “the future of Sino-American relations†is simply “radiantâ€.
