According to several media sources, President Trump is to host a two-day summit at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in an attempt to iron out relations with China. While Trump was highly critical of China's policies during his presidential campaign, his administration is clearly attempting to solidify relations between the two economic giants. Quoting unofficial sources, CNN confirmed the tentative planning of an early April meeting between the two presidents. Details are set to be finalized during the Secretary of State's visit to Asia later this week.
On Monday, Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, acknowledged the plans without announcing dates. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, described the "close communication" between the two leaders and said details would be announced in a timely manner.
The Asia trip by the Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, and the expected summit between Trump and Xi Jinping follow a series of US - China meetings geared toward mending ties following Donald Trump's stinging verbal attacks on China during his election campaign.
Trump's verbal attacks on China during the election campaign
During the 2016 election campaign, Trump criticized China's unfair trade policies and its failure to reign in North Korea.
Most notably, Trump's feelings on China were perhaps most vividly expressed in two of his more noted tweets.
"China is our enemy--they want to destroy us" -- Redstate Interview
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2011
China is not our friend. They are not our ally. They want to overtake us, and if we don’t get smart and tough soon, they will.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2013
The tone has certainly become more conciliatory since Donald Trump's election, and Chinese Foreign Ministry sources have been attempting to rebuild relations urging Trump to "be our friend, not our enemy".
Building new US - China relations
Both sides have clearly been working on rebuilding amicable relations. Speaking on the Secretary of State's visit to Asia, which will include a visit to China, Assistant Secretary of State, Susan Thornton told reporters, Tillerson's visit would "to some extent be paving the way for future high-level meetings between our two presidents."
She went on to describe the approach of the new US administration, as, "pursuing a result-oriented relationship with China; one that benefits the American people and one that remains faithful to our allies and presses China to abide by international rules and norms."
In a letter to the Chinese president sent earlier this year, president Trump expressed his wish to build "constructive ties."
The importance of good US - China relations
There is little doubt about the importance of good relations between the world's two largest economic powers.
Despite the fears of many experts suggestion the two nations could be on a collision course, both the Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson and China's State Councilor, Yang Jiechi expressed their desire to build constructive relations.
In a telephone call last month, Tillerson and Jiechi discussed economic matters, counterterrorism, law enforcement and the need to address the issue of North Korea. The increase in communication and the expected face-to-face meeting between President Trump and President Xi Jinping may very well indicate that both sides are keen to collaborate rather than collide