Summary "Trump sometimes goes back on his word," said Zhang, a 67-year-old Beijing community volunteer. "But I hope this meeting with President Xi will yield a good outcome," she added
(Reuters) – Beijing residents expressed cautious hopes on Thursday that talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would help stabilise ties between the world's two largest economies, while voicing concern over Trump's unpredictable style.
Trump is on a three-day state visit to China from May 13 to 15, his first in nine years. The trip comes as Washington and Beijing seek to manage disputes ranging from trade and technology to Taiwan and security issues.
"Trump sometimes goes back on his word," said Zhang, a 67-year-old Beijing community volunteer. "But I hope this meeting with President Xi will yield a good outcome," she added.
Li Tuo, a 52-year-old retired university professor, said she would be closely watching the talks because of their economic implications.
"The whole country's economy is tied to this in some ways, so I'll be following it," Li said. "I hope China and the United States can have a more harmonious relationship, that way, both our country and the whole world will develop better."
But Li added that her impression of Trump was "not that great", describing him as a controversial figure who was "always changing."
Jamie Wang, a 59-year-old professional tour guide, said Chinese people had grown used to the volatility in bilateral ties.
"It's Trump after all. His style of doing things, the whole world knows it," Wang said.
China's President Xi Jinping told US President Trump in a bilateral meeting on Thursday that each country's success represents an opportunity for the other.
"A stable China-US relationship benefits the entire world. When we cooperate, both sides benefit. When we confront each other, both sides suffer", Xi told Trump in the Great Hall of the People.
The state leaders kicked off two days of talks on Thursday that are set to cover their fragile trade truce, the Iran war, and US arms sales to Taiwan.
