Trump-Xi Summit Next Week: What Are U.S. Lawmakers Expecting?
US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks at the White House on September 24. This will be the second face-to-face meeting between the two heads of state this year. Facing this high-profile US-China summit, bipartisan members of Congress have stated that against the backdrop of intensifying bilateral competition, the two countries still need to maintain communication. Some lawmakers told Voice of America that issues such as national security, trade, and human rights should be placed on the negotiating table.
At the same time, some lawmakers believe that there are differences in systems and values between the US and China, and therefore it is necessary to manage strategic competition to avoid the situation spiraling out of control. One lawmaker stated that there are areas where we can cooperate, and in areas that affect national security, we must protect our core interests while finding a way for people to live in both the United States and China. Another lawmaker mentioned that regarding issues like democracy and sovereignty, we must recognize that we are in very different places, but we share a goal of hoping that both countries can reach a trade agreement.
Regarding the economic sphere, in addition to trade, the Iran issue has also received attention from bipartisan members of Congress. Some lawmakers expressed hope that China could play a role in the Iran issue and navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while others believe that if the US and China can strengthen cooperation on this issue, it might help reduce regional uncertainty. One lawmaker pointed out that during our time in the US, we must work together on Iran; this is a major issue, and together we can provide the world with much stability and calm.
From trade and security to the Iran issue, the topics involved between the US and China are quite extensive, and when discussing this summit, lawmakers generally mentioned one keyword: communication. The extent to which this summit can achieve substantive progress in various areas will also be a focus of attention for all sectors. VOA reporters Li Yihua and Ning Lu reporting from Capitol Hill.