In a major diplomatic coup, President Donald Trump is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year. We look forward to having them all convene in South Korea for this crucial discussion. This upcoming summit is set to continue from their memorable handshake during the last bilateral meeting in Beijing last November 2017. The handshake came to represent a broader diplomatic effort to strengthen connections between the two countries during a time of rising protectionism and trade tensions.
The architecture for this first plenary session has been carefully built during week long negotiations in Malaysia. Their efforts are focused on ensuring a positive and productive exchange of ideas from the two leaders. These leaders have often tussled on lots of other economic policy fronts and geopolitical flashpoints. The excitement around the meeting underscores the precarious international relationship between the US and China.
At their 2017 meeting in Beijing, Trump and Xi focused on the most vital issues of trade and security. At the end of their negotiations, they would shake hands. Their willingness for this gesture of goodwill demonstrated they were prepared to participate in good faith in additional negotiations. Although the two leaders have not seen as much positive collaboration since, there’s been both high-impact communication and public disputes.
As negotiations progressed in Malaysia, officials worked diligently to address key issues that could arise during the South Korea summit. The meeting agreed upon continues to loom large for both sides. It will improve their overall bilateral relations and resolve key trade disputes that have roiled global markets.
The impact of the upcoming meeting cannot be overstated, both for U.S.-China relations and for the international community at large. Many economists and political analysts are watching developments closely. Any deal struck would be significant, altering market expectations for the sector and reverberating through international trade policy.