Cordial Trump-Xi meeting is a 'good sign,' says longtime U.S. diplomat

"Xi issued a warning on Taiwan, saying that if the U.S. did not handle relations with Taiwan properly then the U.S. and China would clash and their entire relationship would be in great jeopardy."

"The U.S. readout stated that both sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and that "Iran can never have a nuclear weapon." But the Chinese state media summary only reported that the Middle East was discussed, it did not specifically mention Iran's nuclear program or the Strait of Hormuz."

"Longtime U.S. diplomat, Richard Haass, told Morning Edition that each country's readout reflects just how different their priorities are from each other. "For China, obviously, what matters most is Taiwan, Taiwan, Taiwan," Haass said. "And for the U.S., there's a range of issues. But for this president, first and foremost, is trade and reducing the imbalance of trade that exists between us.""

"Haass predicts that no negotiations or compromises, especially on big issues, will be made during the summit. Though he says the calm demeanor and positive words exchanged between the two presidents during the summit are a "good sign.""

President Trump visited China for the first U.S. presidential visit in nearly a decade to meet Xi Jinping. The leaders attended a state banquet in Beijing and released separate readouts of their private meeting. Xinhua reported Xi warned that if the U.S. did not handle Taiwan relations properly, the two countries would clash and their relationship would face serious jeopardy. The White House readout emphasized trade and the war in Iran. The U.S. stated both sides agreed the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and that Iran could never have a nuclear weapon. Chinese state media reported Middle East discussion without those specific details. A former U.S. diplomat said the readouts reflect different priorities, with China focused on Taiwan and the U.S. focused on trade, and predicted limited negotiations on major issues despite positive tone.

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