Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump met in Busan, the Republic of Korea, for their first face-to-face talks in six years. The summit set the stage for a fresh chapter in China-U.S. diplomacy.
Wu Xinbo, director of Fudan University's Center for American Studies, describes the encounter as a restart of top-level dialogue. "It's not just a simple restart," he says. "Trump now clearly recognizes China's capability and willpower."
Since their last meeting six years ago, China has strengthened its global position. Both leaders stressed that their relationship should be anchored by cooperation, with Xi calling for stable navigation through complex waters and Trump dubbing China America's biggest partner.
On the economic front, Xi urged that trade "serve as the anchor and driving force," warning against using commerce as a weapon. Wu notes this signals a shift toward mutual benefit: "Both sides should expand the economic pie together, not target or humiliate each other."
Trump's remarks on progress in trade talks suggest a preference for dialogue over confrontation. "The U.S. may increasingly choose negotiation when managing economic relations with China," Wu observes.
Looking ahead, Wu expects a period of relative stability if both sides manage sensitive issues carefully. He points to China's export controls on rare earths earlier this year as a reminder that Beijing holds powerful tools in reserve. "If the U.S. wants to provoke China again, it will have to think twice," he warns.
As the world watches, the Busan meeting stands as a symbolic turning point—it could redefine the trajectory of the world's most consequential bilateral relationship.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
