Busan Summit: New Hopes Between Washington and Beijing

Critical Summit in Busan

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Busan, South Korea, to reshape the relations between their two countries. This was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Trump's return to office. This critical meeting is of great importance for the future of global trade and the trajectory of relations between the two countries.

Xi's Persuasive Message

At the beginning of the meeting, Xi Jinping stated that China and the U.S. should be friends and partners, saying, "China's development does not contradict the U.S. vision of 'making America great again'." Xi noted that occasional tensions between the world's two largest economies are normal and stated, "The two leaders need to guide the relationship on the right path."

President Trump's Statements

Trump indicated that he and Xi agreed on many issues and that this meeting presented an opportunity for further consensus. "President Xi is a great leader of a great nation, and I believe we will establish a fantastic relationship in the long run," he stated.

Delegation Structure

Participants in the meeting included Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Vice Premier He Lifeng, and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao from the Chinese side, while on the U.S. side, Trump was accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

Future of Beijing and Washington Relations

In recent months, relations between the two countries had soured due to issues such as tariff increases imposed by the U.S. administration and restrictions in the technology sector. Additionally, China's control over rare earth elements has been among the factors deepening the disagreements. The meeting between Trump and Xi could be a critical turning point for reaching a compromise on these issues and making decisions that will affect the direction of the global economy.