By Saadet Gokce and Michael Hernandez
ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON (AA) - Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed US President Donald Trump on Thursday for his peacemaking efforts, settling regional hotspot issues, as the two leaders met in the South Korean port city of Busan.
"You care a lot about world peace, and you're very enthusiastic about settling various regional hotspot issues. I appreciate your great contribution to the recent conclusion of the Gaza ceasefire agreement," Xi told Trump.
Xi also noted Trump’s role in a peace pact between Cambodia and Thailand signed Sunday after the two Southeast Asian countries engaged in deadly border clashes in July this year.
It marks the first time in six years that the leaders of the world's top two economies met face-to-face. Xi and Trump last met in June 2019 at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.
"The world today is confronted with many tough problems. China and the US can jointly shoulder our responsibility as major countries and work together to accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of our two countries and the whole world," Xi told Trump.
The Chinese leader said the world’s two largest economies did not see eye-to-eye on many issues, which was "normal."
Xi acknowledged that Chinese and US trade teams, which met several times including in Malaysia over the weekend, had made "encouraging progress" towards a "solid foundation, sound atmosphere" for bilateral talks.
"In the face of winds, waves and challenges, you and I at the helm of China-US relations should stay the right course and ensure the steady sailing forward of the giant ship of China-US relations,” Xi stressed.
China and the US can “jointly work to accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of our two countries and the whole world,” Xi told Trump.
Trump said the US and Chinese delegations "already agreed to a lot of things" ahead of the meeting and said he and Xi will "agree to some more right now."
"President Xi is a great leader of a great country, and 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," he told reporters.
Xi and Trump are in South Korea for the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, which Xi will also attend. Trump held a meeting with APEC business leaders Wednesday.