President Trump and Xi Jinping to continue talks despite differences — South China Morning Post

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed their readiness to maintain dialogue and continue negotiations during a three-day summit in Washington, although the meeting produced few concrete agreements. As South China Morning Post reports, analysts believe that contacts between the two leaders could ensure a period of relative stability after last year’s trade confrontation and market volatility.

Trade truce

Beijing and Washington extended their trade truce for two months, until January 10. According to the publication, the sides may also reach an arrangement involving reciprocal exemptions for certain categories of goods subject to lower tariffs. These include “non-strategic” agricultural products, clothing, consumer electronics and other industrial goods. Details were to be announced on Monday.

Sarah Shuman, managing director of the consulting firm Beacon Global Strategies and a former US diplomat in Beijing, said that both countries are showing a degree of restraint. In her view, Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States and the holding of a state dinner were among the main outcomes of the trip.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Differences remain

At the same time, analysts note that the leaders’ friendly rhetoric has not eliminated the structural differences between the two states. Unresolved issues include competition in technology, economic security, Taiwan and trade relations. Public statements during the visit did not address China’s control over rare earth minerals, which, according to experts, has shifted the balance of power in relations with the United States.

Emily Kilcrease, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, warned that low trust between Washington and Beijing and reduced lower-level contacts could contribute to misunderstandings in the event of a crisis. Craig Singleton, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described the meeting as a summit aimed at “managing the stalemate rather than resolving it.”

Experts also expect two more meetings between Trump and Xi Jinping this year. In their view, regular personal contacts may support bilateral stability, but do not mean a reset of US-China relations or a major trade deal.