Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, attends a welcome ceremony with U.S. President Donald Trump, left, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 14. AP-Yonhap
BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping warned his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump that missteps on Taiwan could push their two countries into "conflict," a stark opening salvo as they met in Beijing on Thursday at a superpower summit.
Trump had arrived in China with accolades for his host, calling Xi a "great leader" and "friend", as he predicted that their countries would have "a fantastic future together."
But beyond the pomp as he welcomed Trump, Xi in less effusive tones said the two sides "should be partners and not rivals", while highlighting the issue of self-ruled democratic Taiwan — which Beijing claims as its territory — straight off the bat.
"The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations," Xi said, according to remarks published by Chinese state media shortly after talks began.
"If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-U.S. relationship into a highly perilous situation," he added at the opening talks that lasted around two hours 15 minutes.
Trump's trip to Beijing is the first by a U.S. president in nearly a decade, with the grand reception belying a host of unresolved trade and geopolitical tensions between the two countries.
Xi greeted Trump with a red-carpet welcome at the opulent Great Hall of the People, with military band fanfare, a gun salute and a host of schoolchildren jumping and chanting "welcome!"
Seemingly enjoying the ceremony, Trump said "the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before."
Xi instead referenced an ancient Greek political theory about the risks of war when a rising power rivals a ruling power.
Source: Korea Times News
