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Donald Trump heaps praise on China and blames US for trade deficit Donald Trump praises China and blames US for trade deficit
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump has lavished praise on Chinese president Xi Jinping and blamed his American predecessors for the “huge” trade deficit between the world’s two largest economies, as he was officially welcomed to Beijing with an explosion of military splendour and staged adulation. Donald Trump has lavished praise on the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and blamed his own predecessors for the “huge” trade deficit between the world’s two largest economies, during his official welcome to Beijing amid an explosion of military splendour and staged adulation.
Speaking on Thursday at the the Great Hall of the People, the ceremonial heart of Communist party rule, Trump paid tribute to his “warm and gracious” host, and said he appreciated Xi’s support for recent efforts to rein in North Korea’s weapons programs. Speaking on Thursday at the the Great Hall of the People, the ceremonial heart of Communist party rule, Trump paid tribute to his “warm and gracious” host, and said he appreciated Xi’s support for recent efforts to rein in North Korea’s weapons programmes.
During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly lashed out at China accusing it of “raping” the US economy and being the country’s “enemy”. But on the second day of his visit to Beijing as part of his 12-day tour of Asia, he struck a far softer tone. During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly criticised China, accusing it of “raping” the US economy and being the country’s “enemy”. But on the second day of his visit to Beijing as part of his 12-day tour of east Asia, the president struck a far softer tone.
“Trade between China and the United States has not been over the last many, many years a very fair one for us,” Trump told an audience of business leaders and journalists, describing the relationship as “shockingly” unbalanced and costing the US $300bn a year. “Trade between China and the United States has not been, over the last many, many years, a very fair one for us,” Trump told an audience of business leaders and journalists, describing the relationship as “shockingly” unbalanced and costing the US $300bn (£229bn) a year.
However, to an audible gasp from the audience, the US president then went on to suggest that it was not China to blame, but the US itself. However, to an audible gasp from the audience, the US president went on to suggest that it was not China to blame, but the US itself.
“Right now, unfortunately, it is a very one-sided and unfair [relationship]. But – but – I don’t blame China. After all, who can blame a country for taking advantage of another country for the benefit of its own citizens? I give China great credit.“Right now, unfortunately, it is a very one-sided and unfair [relationship]. But – but – I don’t blame China. After all, who can blame a country for taking advantage of another country for the benefit of its own citizens? I give China great credit.
“But in actuality I do blame past [US] administrations for allowing this out of control trade deficit to take place and to grow. We have to fix this because it just doesn’t work … it is just not sustainable.”“But in actuality I do blame past [US] administrations for allowing this out of control trade deficit to take place and to grow. We have to fix this because it just doesn’t work … it is just not sustainable.”
US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, later tried to clarify Trump’s comments. “Well, as I was sitting there listening to that, there was a little bit of tongue-in-cheek in that characterisation. But there was also a lot of truth to it,” he told reporters. The US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, later tried to clarify Trump’s comments. “Well, as I was sitting there listening to that, there was a little bit of tongue-in-cheek in that characterisation. But there was also a lot of truth to it,” he told reporters.
In his eight-minute address, Trump also urged Xi to “act faster and more effectively” to extinguish North Korea’s nuclear “menace”.In his eight-minute address, Trump also urged Xi to “act faster and more effectively” to extinguish North Korea’s nuclear “menace”.
The US president must grapple with the thorny issues of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions as well as trade wars in Asia on one of the trickiest diplomatic tours in decades.The US president must grapple with the thorny issues of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions as well as trade wars in Asia on one of the trickiest diplomatic tours in decades.
Trump warns of the North Korean threat and says Japanese orders for US-made military equipment will help keep Japan safe. Read moreTrump warns of the North Korean threat and says Japanese orders for US-made military equipment will help keep Japan safe. Read more
The North Korea rhetoric softens as the president suggests he is open to diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear crisis. Read moreThe North Korea rhetoric softens as the president suggests he is open to diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear crisis. Read more
Xi Jinping rolls out the red carpet for Trump, who lavishes praise on his host and blames his American predecessors for the 'huge' trade deficit between the US and China. Read moreXi Jinping rolls out the red carpet for Trump, who lavishes praise on his host and blames his American predecessors for the 'huge' trade deficit between the US and China. Read more
Trump swings through Da Nang for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting (featuring one Vladimir Putin), before flying to Hanoi for talks with Vietnam’s president about boosting economic and security cooperation.Trump swings through Da Nang for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting (featuring one Vladimir Putin), before flying to Hanoi for talks with Vietnam’s president about boosting economic and security cooperation.
US-Filipino relations have plummeted under President Rodrigo Duterte, who shares some populist and mercurial characteristics with his guest. The war on drugs and Islamic terror could join North Korea on the agenda.US-Filipino relations have plummeted under President Rodrigo Duterte, who shares some populist and mercurial characteristics with his guest. The war on drugs and Islamic terror could join North Korea on the agenda.
“I know one thing about your president: if he works on it hard it will happen,” the US president added, to laughter. “There is no doubt about it.” “I know one thing about your president: if he works on it hard, it will happen,” the US president added, to laughter. “There is no doubt about it.”
Xi and Trump unveiled more than $250bn in economic deals, a move one Chinese official hailed as “truly a miracle”, but sceptics believe were likely to have materialised even without the US president’s visit. Xi and Trump unveiled more than $250bn in economic deals, a move one Chinese official hailed as “truly a miracle”, but which sceptics believe were likely to have materialised even without the presidential visit.
Earlier, Xi greeted Trump at the eastern steps of the Mao-era Great Hall, where he was met on a red carpet by members of China’s top leadership and a military guard of honour. Earlier, Xi greeted Trump on a red carpet at the eastern steps of the Mao-era Great Hall, observed by members of China’s top leadership and a military guard of honour.
The leaders of the world’s two largest economies watched a military parade and were greeted by flag-waving school children from both China and the US.
POTUS and FLOTUS join President Xi and Madame Peng of China at the Great Hall of People to kick off today's bilateral meetings. #POTUSinAsia pic.twitter.com/fp8NuA7XhKPOTUS and FLOTUS join President Xi and Madame Peng of China at the Great Hall of People to kick off today's bilateral meetings. #POTUSinAsia pic.twitter.com/fp8NuA7XhK
China has painted Trump’s reception as an unusually enthusiastic tribute to a respected foreign friend. On Thursday night Trump was honoured with a state banquet at which guests were served grouper fillets in chilli oil, coconut-flavoured chicken soup and wines from the Great Wall winery in China’s Hebei province. The leaders of the world’s two largest economies watched a military parade and were greeted by flag-waving schoolchildren from both China and the US.
China has painted Trump’s reception as an unusually enthusiastic tribute to a respected foreign friend. On Thursday night, Trump was honoured with a state banquet at which guests were served grouper fillets in chilli oil, coconut-flavoured chicken soup and wines from the Great Wall winery in China’s Hebei province.
Tonight's state banquet menu. Photo by Xiaomi founder Lei Jun pic.twitter.com/5qCswfSPvMTonight's state banquet menu. Photo by Xiaomi founder Lei Jun pic.twitter.com/5qCswfSPvM
“China and the United States, once involved in animosity, have grown into a community with our interests converging,” Xi reportedly said in his toast.“China and the United States, once involved in animosity, have grown into a community with our interests converging,” Xi reportedly said in his toast.
Trump replied: “Though we come from different places and far away lands, there is much that binds the east and the west.” Trump replied: “Though we come from different places and faraway lands, there is much that binds the east and the west.”
Ely Ratner, a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, described the US president’s comments on trade as “by far Trump’s biggest mistake so far on Asia trip”.Ely Ratner, a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, described the US president’s comments on trade as “by far Trump’s biggest mistake so far on Asia trip”.
“Shameful. Terrible message to American workers and the region. Should be red meat for Democrats,” he wrote on Twitter.“Shameful. Terrible message to American workers and the region. Should be red meat for Democrats,” he wrote on Twitter.
Ratner said Trump’s VIP treatment was a Chinese attempt to flatter and impress the volatile US leaderRatner said Trump’s VIP treatment was a Chinese attempt to flatter and impress the volatile US leader
: “It’s clearly an effort to try to get him to back off on some of the more punitive actions that the administration is considering on North Korea and trade and investment.”: “It’s clearly an effort to try to get him to back off on some of the more punitive actions that the administration is considering on North Korea and trade and investment.”
Xi’s attempts to massage Trump’s ego appear to have worked. Speaking at the Great Hall of the People, Trump thanked Xi for his “absolutely terrific” welcome to China and said he harboured “incredibly warm” feelings towards a man now seen as China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong. Xi’s attempts to massage Trump’s ego appear to have worked. Speaking at the Great Hall, Trump thanked Xi for his “absolutely terrific” welcome to China and said he harboured “incredibly warm” feelings towards a man now seen as China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong.
“You are a very special man,” Trump told Xi.“You are a very special man,” Trump told Xi.
Xi was more restrained in his choice of words, although he hailed Trump’s successful and historic visit, and said he hoped the US and China could “write more and more great stories” together in the future.Xi was more restrained in his choice of words, although he hailed Trump’s successful and historic visit, and said he hoped the US and China could “write more and more great stories” together in the future.
The Chinese president did not directly respond to Trump’s call for faster action on North Korea, but told reporters Beijing was committed to solving the crisis “through dialogue and negotiation”.The Chinese president did not directly respond to Trump’s call for faster action on North Korea, but told reporters Beijing was committed to solving the crisis “through dialogue and negotiation”.
“We are ready to discuss with relevant parties the pathway leading to enduring peace and stability on the peninsula and in north-east Asia.”“We are ready to discuss with relevant parties the pathway leading to enduring peace and stability on the peninsula and in north-east Asia.”
Xi also played down tensions between Beijing and Washington: “As two distinctive countries, our two sides may have different views or differences on some issues. This is only natural. The key is to properly handle and manage them.”Xi also played down tensions between Beijing and Washington: “As two distinctive countries, our two sides may have different views or differences on some issues. This is only natural. The key is to properly handle and manage them.”
North Korean state media earlier rebuffed Trump’s diplomatic overtures. Official news agency KCNA called Trump a “lunatic old man” and said the US should oust him in order to escape “the abyss of doom”. North Korean state media earlier rebuffed Trump’s diplomatic overtures. The official news agency, KCNA, called Trump a “lunatic old man” and said the US should oust him in order to escape “the abyss of doom”.
In a statement to journalists in Beijing, Trump said: “All responsible nations must join together to stop arming and financing – and even trading with – the murderous North Korean regime.In a statement to journalists in Beijing, Trump said: “All responsible nations must join together to stop arming and financing – and even trading with – the murderous North Korean regime.
“Together, we have in our power to finally liberate this region and the world from this very serious nuclear menace. But it will require collective action, collective strength, and collective devotion to winning the peace.”“Together, we have in our power to finally liberate this region and the world from this very serious nuclear menace. But it will require collective action, collective strength, and collective devotion to winning the peace.”
Additional reporting by Benjamin HaasAdditional reporting by Benjamin Haas