USA TODAY International Edition
China, Russia on Trump’s G-20 list
One-on-one meetings fill president’s schedule
OSAKA, Japan – President Donald Trump arrived Thursday for the G-20 summit in the city known as “the kitchen” of Japan, but he’s not here for the internationally renowned scorpion skewers or octopus balls.
Instead, he’ll chew on tough global challenges: a trade war with China, military-style tensions with Iran, stalled nuclear talks with North Korea and whatever else might come up.
Though Trump will attend G-20 summit sessions with leaders from around the world, most of the work will revolve around one-on-one meetings.
Trump will meet Saturday with Chinese President Xi Jinping at what may be a make-or-break moment for a new trade agreement with China. Without it, the tariff-for-tariff trade war between the two countries could go on indefinitely, undercutting the world’s two largest economies.
Few financial analysts expect Trump and Xi to sign and seal an agreement in Osaka. What’s more likely: some sort of agreement to keep negotiating.
On Friday, Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It will be their first sit-down since the release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report detailing efforts by Putin’s government to interfere in the 2016 election to benefit Trump.
Trump said it’s important to “get along” with Russia because it can help on problems such as the civil war in Syria and aggression by Iran.
A week ago, Trump ordered a military strike on Iran for shooting down a U.S. drone then suddenly imposed new economic sanctions instead.
Awaiting Iran’s next move, Trump is trying to get other countries to keep sanctions on Iran and pressure it into a permanent commitment to give up nuclear weapons.
Trump also will speak with Xi and Putin about efforts to revive negotiations between the United States and North Korea over ending the latter’s nuclear weapons programs.
The talks stalled after the collapse of Trump’s second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in February.
Trump is scheduled to have a “working breakfast” Saturday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – mostly to talk about Iran.