Chinese President Xi Jinping opens bilateral talks with U.S. President Donald Trump by saying the two countries should act as “partners, not rivals.” NBC News reports that Xi frames the meeting as occurring amid global scrutiny and at what he describes as a “new crossroads,” and he argues that a stable U.S.-China relationship benefits the world. Both NBC News accounts describe Xi directly stating that the United States and China should be partners rather than competitors as the talks begin.
The Washington Times adds that the leaders stress cooperation between the two superpowers as they work to stabilize a trade agreement and find common ground amid uncertainty related to the Iran conflict. Taken together, the coverage indicates the opening tone of the discussions centers on improving stability in the bilateral relationship while addressing ongoing economic and broader geopolitical concerns. The sources do not indicate any agreement reached at the opening of the talks, focusing instead on the statements made as negotiations get underway.
