President Trump touted the “tremendous progress” he has notched so far through introductory talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, announcing Friday that the two had made significant progress toward resolving several disputes.
“We have made tremendous progress in our relationship with China,” Trump said Friday in brief remarks with Xi. “I think truly progress has been made.”
Trump described his burgeoning relationship with Xi as “outstanding.”
The White House said earlier this week that Trump would focus on disagreements over trade and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions when he hosted Xi at Mar-a-Lago, his personal Palm Beach, Fla. estate.
Trump hinted that “lots of very potentially bad problems will be going away” as a result of his discussions with Xi.
The president was expected to press Xi on China’s role in containing North Korean aggression. Although Trump had previously vowed to label China a currency manipulator, the White House stressed this week that Trump would withhold any such declarations until after he had a chance to speak with Xi privately.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and a number of high-level White House aides joined Trump for his appearance with Xi on Friday.
