President Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday evening local time to meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a crucial time in President Trump’s office during the war with Iran and economic uncertainty.
“We are two powerful countries,” said Mr. Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Tuesday. “We are the most powerful nation in the world militarily. China is considered second.”
Mr. Trump was greeted by Chinese officials at the airport in Beijing on his arrival. The US president and his delegation descended the steps of Air Force One and were greeted by Chinese vice president Han Zheng, foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu, and ambassadors of both countries.
As they walked the red carpet, 300 Chinese young men and women waved the Chinese and American flags in unison.
Evan Vucci / REUTERS
“There are many things we have to discuss,” said Mr. Trump before he left. “I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because Iran is very controlled.”
Beijing and Washington are 12 hours apart.
Mr. Trump has made it clear that he intends to push Xi to open more American businesses to China, and he is delivering delegations of business leaders with him in China. Elon Musk was spotted on Air Force One, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang (on board Anchorage), and director Brett Ratner, who directed the documentary “Melania”. Apple’s Tim Cook is also expected, along with other CEOs.
Mr. Trump’s son Eric, the vice president of the Trump Organization, and his wife, Lara, were also on Air Force One, although a spokesman for the Trump Organization said in a statement that Eric Trump would not be on business on the trip.
Before he left, Mr. Trump spoke to New York City broadcaster Sid Rosenberg, citing the “good relationship” the US has with China and saying “there are many benefits to our mutual understanding.”
“If we disagreed, you would know about it, but there are many good things,” added Mr.
He posted on social media before the trip that he would give Xi a “big, fat hug” if they met.
Mr. Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One that he did not need China’s military or economic help – even though China is a major buyer of Iranian oil and boats have been blocked by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
When asked by a reporter how much money the American people “motivates you to make a deal,” Mr. Trump replied: “Not at all.”
“I don’t think about the financial situation of the American people,” said Mr. “I don’t think about anyone. I think about one thing: we cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
Matt Pottinger, who served as deputy national adviser in the Trump administration and now heads the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told CBS News that the meeting was “a bipartisan effort to establish detente.”
“Detente does not mean a cooperative relationship, but a less estranged relationship in the near term,” Pottinger said.
Mr. Trump wants to prevent China from using its power strange worldsand Beijing is looking at tariff relief, Pottinger said. But much of the meeting will focus on issues the two sides disagree on, such as Taiwan, artificial intelligence and Iran, he said. Beijing, Pottinger said, is trying to trick the US into giving them equally advanced AI.
“Most of the time the fact that the meeting is happening is what needs to be delivered,” Pottinger said.
