US President Donald Trump lavished praise on his “friend” China’s leader Xi Jinping as the two sat down for high-stakes talks in South Korea, reported CNN.
“It’s a great honor to be with a friend of mine, really, for a long time now,” Trump said as he sat across a table from Xi.
Chinese President Xi Jinping commended U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent peacemaking efforts, even as he acknowledged the enduring complexities in China-U.S. relations.
“Given our different national conditions, we do not always see eye to eye with each other,” Xi said, “and it is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have frictions now and then.”
Despite those differences, Xi struck a conciliatory tone, emphasizing the importance of strategic cooperation. “The two leaders should stay the right course and ensure the steady sailing forward of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations,” he said.
Xi went further, offering rare praise for Trump’s role in recent international peace efforts. He specifically cited Trump’s “great contribution to the recent conclusion of the Gaza ceasefire agreement” and his presence at the signing of a peace accord between Thailand and Cambodia.
