Advertisement
Trump-Kim summit 2019: Xi could be ‘more helpful’, says US president
- As the Hanoi summit between the United States and North Korea ends in disappointment, the US president warns trade war talks with Beijing could go a similar way, even as he acknowledges Chinese support
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
As talks between the United States and North Korea ended on Thursday with little to show for the effort, US President Donald Trump said his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping could have been “more helpful” in encouraging Pyongyang to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons – even as he acknowledged Beijing’s support.
“China has been very helpful. President Xi is a great leader. He is a highly respected leader all over the world,” Trump said at a press conference after his two-day summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ended without an expected accord. “Could he be more helpful? Probably.”
But he also added: “I think China’s been a big help; bigger than most people know.”
Advertisement
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi late on Thursday said there was concern within the international community over the talks, and that Beijing hoped both sides would press on despite difficulties.
He said China would continue to play a “constructive role” in the process. Wang Yi was commenting after meeting a North Korean delegation led by deputy foreign minister Ri Kil-song.
Advertisement
The US president in his press conference also alluded to the US-China trade war, saying there was a “very good chance” it could be resolved soon but also raising the prospect that those negotiations could go a similar way as the Hanoi summit.
“Speaking of China, we are very well on our way to doing something special. But we’ll see. I am always prepared to walk. I’m never afraid to walk from a deal, and I would do that with China, too, if it didn’t work out.”
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x