Trump turns on charm, drops China bashing in meet with Xi
WASHINGTON: While the world’s attention was focussed on the US missile strikes on Syria, Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping quietly wrapped up their first round of meetings on Friday that the American side described as “positive and productive”.
On Saturday, Trump tweeted, “It was a great honor to have President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan of China as our guests in the United States. Tremendous goodwill and friendship was formed, but only time will tell on trade.”
Trade remains Trump’s chief grouse against China, which has a trade surplus of $347 billion with the US, and he, as presidential candidate, had accused China of cheating, by manipulating their currency.
Trump did raise his concerns on the issue with Xi. The White House said in a statement that he “noted the challenges caused by Chinese government intervention in its economy and raised serious concerns about the impact of China’s industrial, agricultural, technology, and cyber policies on United States jobs and exports.
“The President underscored the need for China to take concrete steps to level the playing field for American workers, stressing repeatedly the need for reciprocal market access.”
The two leaders also discussed North Korea and threat posed by its weapons programme.
“They agreed to increase cooperation and work with the international community to convince North Korea to peacefully resolve the issue and dismantle its illegal nuclear and missile programs,” the White House said.
To better address important issues, the two leaders also decided to “elevate existing bilateral talks” and established a “new and cabinet-level framework for negotiations”.
Trump has also accepted Xi’s invitation to visit China. WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has named two more Indian Americans to key senior positions in his administration.
He named Vishal J Amin on Friday as the intellectual property enforcement coordinator in the president’s executive office and Neomi Rao as administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget.
When confirmed, they will join Nikki Haley, Seema Verma, Ajit Pai and others of Indian descent in key positions. As US ambassador to UN, Haley holds a cabinet position, the highest federal office ever held by an Indian American.
Amin is currently serving as senior counsel on the House Judiciary Committee. His earlier positions included stints in President George W Bush’s White House as associate director for domestic policy and in the department of commerce.
He studied neuroscience for his bachelors degree from Johns Hopkins University and received his law degree from Washington University in St Louis.
Rao is a professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University and also serves as a public member of the Administrative Conference of the United States. She was associate counsel to President George W. Bush; counsel for nominations and constitutional law to the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary; and law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas of the US Supreme Court. Rao went to the University of Chicago and Yale University.