Mar-a-Lago smoothed bilateral waters, say experts

The “positive and productive” meetings between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump in Florida last week have facilitated the smooth transition of China-US ties and made the relationship more solid, researchers said.

In what The New York Times called “the most important diplomatic encounter of his presidency so far”, Trump, about 70 days into his presidency, spent more than seven hours with his Chinese guest on April 6-7, discussing bilateral and global issues and building a personal rapport, while charting the course for a new era in the world’s most important bilateral relationship.

The international community has rising expectations of China-US relations.” Ruan Zongze, executive deputy president of the China Institute of International Studies

“Both on his campaign trail and in post-inauguration days, President Trump had used much rhetoric about China,” said Tao Wenzhao, a senior researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. “We had no clue as to what actions the new administration will take on China, how their relations will proceed, and whether previous bilateral exchange and cooperative mechanisms will prevail.”

The meetings at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, called “positive and productive” by the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, have helped end the transition period and greatly curtailed the uncertainties haunting bilateral relations due to the administration change in the US, Tao told China Daily.

He said the new mechanism of dialogue between the world’s two largest economies, endorsed by both presidents during the visit, will play a crucial role in building a more balanced and solid bilateral relationship, one characterized by no conflict and no confrontation.

During the meeting, the two leaders agreed to elevate existing bilateral talks to reflect the importance of making progress on key issues, a US statement said.

The US-China Comprehensive Dialogue will be overseen by the two presidents and will have four pillars to deal with major issues: security, economic relations, cybersecurity and law enforcement and peopleto-people exchanges, according to statements from both sides.

There is a big change in the new arrangement compared with the China-US High-Level

Consultationon People-to-People Exhange and US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, Tao said. Among the four pilars, the Diplomatic and Security Dialogue and the Comprehensive Economic Dialogue were kicked off during Xi's visit. Taking part were Chinese Vice- Premier Wang Ynag and State Councilor Yang Jiechi, along

with US State Secretarydeputy director Rex Tillerson,of the central Treasury Rural SecretaryWork LeadingSteven Mnuchin,Group before Commercemoving Secretaryto work Wilburin Gansu Ross earlier and this Defense month. Secretary Jim Mattis.

Tang “The is Comprehensivealso currently deputy Dialogue secretarywill be ofa mechanismthe Gansu Provincialsecond only Committeeto a presidentialof the Communistsummit in termsParty of of China. importance,” On Tao the said. same “In particular,day, the Standingthe Diplomatic Committeeand Securityof the ShandongDialogue, similar Provincialto the ‘2 People’s plus 2’ talks Congress between namedthe US Gong and Zhengits alliance, deputy has governornever beenand conducted between China and the US before.”

This will add more weight to the security exchange in bilateral relations, Tao said, adding the two presidents’ promise to enhance mutual trust on military security is noteworthy, as military exchange used to be an area of weakness in bilateral relations. acting “The governornew mechanismof the province.is an innovation, and we cannot emphasizeGong, 57, hadtoo muchrich workingits role experiencein building withup China-USChina’s General relations,” AdministrationTao said. of Customs Ruan before Zongze,being appointed executive vice-governordeputy presidentof of Zhejiangthe China province Institutein of 2008. InternationalHe was named Studies, deputy agreed Partythat by chief settingof Shandonga frameworkin Augustfor China-US2015. ties, the Gong’s Trump-Xi predecessor, meeting couldGuo Shuqing,reduce uncertaintieswas appointedin the chairmanfuture and of help the avoid China any Banking strategic Regulatory miscalculations. Commission in February.Neither China nor the US On alonethe central could government effectively level, cope the with State the Council, mountingChina’s Cabinet, complexitiesalso announcedand challengesthe appointmentof the world, of Ruan several said seniorin an officialsarticle postedon Tuesday.on Wechat.

Li “The Baorongwasnameddeputyinternational community secretary-generalhas rising expectationsof the of State China-US Council, relations,”and Peng he Jiarui said. was “When appointed elephants commanderfight, theof the grass Xinjianggets hurt. ProductionSuch embarrassmentand Construction must Corps,be avoided.”a specialized Ruan paramilitaryis scheduled organizationto host a discussionin the titled Xinjiang “The Uygur Mar-aautonomousLago meeting: region.a new starting point for China-US relations” in Beijing on Wednesday.