President Donald Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea, just a short time after he announced on social media that the United States would restart nuclear weapons testing.
In Trump’s nuclear weapons statement, he noted that China “is a distant third” in nuclear weapons but will be even with the U.S. alongside Russia “within 5 years.”
Trump and Xi shook hands at the beginning of the meeting, where Trump said, “I think we’re going to have a fantastic relationship for a long period of time — and it’s an honor to have you with us.”
As the meeting started, a reporter asked Trump why he sought to conduct more nuclear testing, but he did not comment on the issue. Xi began by praising Trump as a peacemaker through an interpreter.
“Mr. President, you care a lot about world peace. And you are very enthusiastic about settling various regional hot spot issues. I appreciate your great contribution to the recent conclusion of the Gaza ceasefire,” Xi said.
TRUMP AND XI SUPERPOWER SUMMIT: HERE’S WHAT’S AT STAKE
He concluded, “China and the U.S. can jointly shoulder our responsibilities as major countries and work together to accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of our two countries and the whole world.”
The pair is expected to speak about a recent trade framework accomplished between the two countries.
