Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping made headlines with their historic diplomatic meeting in Beijing. This essential engagement happened in November of 2017. The meeting resoundingly ended with a handshake between the two leaders. Their hopes were to improve U.S.-China relations while addressing trade policy and national security concerns.
At the summit, Trump and Xi discussed a number of serious issues impacting both countries. These conversations were critical, as they aimed to set the tone for ongoing collaboration and engagement. Yet their meeting in Beijing was notable for several reasons. It prepared the ground for a leaders’ summit due to take place in South Korea the following month, where they hoped to engage in deeper discussions.
It accomplished a remarkable feat. The high-level meeting’s preparation was initiated almost entirely by behind-the-scenes communications between negotiators from both parties. They wrangled over the fine print in Malaysia to lay the groundwork for future multiple bilateral discussions between their respective heads of state. This preparatory work proved vital in making sure our meeting would be as productive as possible, given the current complexities involved in U.S.-China relations.
President Trump and President Xi shook hands and declared the meeting a success. This one simple gesture underscored their promise to collaborate, despite the daunting task that lay before them. Observers noted that this gesture could signify a willingness to address contentious issues, including trade imbalances and security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region.
As both leaders get set for their third meeting in South Korea, the world awaits what comes next. The results of their discussions would have a truly historic impact on the future stability of the global economy and the larger geopolitical landscape.