On November 9, 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping made history with a four-minute handshake. This moment happened right on the heels of their landmark meeting in Beijing. This handshake, seen in a Financial Times photograph, represents their dedication to an open line of communication. It demonstrates their willingness to work together amid rising trade tensions between their countries.
The meeting in Beijing could prove to be a very important inflection point in U.S.-China relations. Both leaders emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges in their economic relationship. During this friendly visit, the world leaders discussed a variety of issues, including the fraught trade negotiations that have dominated their bilateral relationship. Taken at the White House, then photo stamped 2017. This photo provides a constant reminder that both leaders are deeply committed to finding common ground.
Planning for more substantive talks has been ongoing since their previous meeting in Beijing. Negotiators from both countries met in Malaysia. Their goal, in part, was to lay the groundwork for a Trump-Xi meeting, which could take place later this fall in South Korea. This forward-looking initiative by both parties serves to emphasize both parties’ eagerness to enter a new era of collaborative, bipartisan problem-solving.
A U.S.-China trade war would spur a different sort of negotiations, and that’s bound to be a major topic of discussion in South Korea. Rare earths and especially soybeans quickly became major flashpoints. So far, both countries are claiming success on all fronts. The debates around these cherries on top are just the latest chapter in a long complicated story of their economic connection.
Trump and Xi’s past encounters further emphasize how vital diplomacy is when dealing with the intricacies involved in international trade. Their sustained participation shows a recognition that dealing with shared issues is critical to the health of both economies.