When assessing Donald Trump’s summit meeting with Kim Jong Un, opinions seem to be diverge. In the West, many observers described the premiere termination of talks in Vietnamese Hanoi as a debacle. There is talk of a setback, and CDU foreign politician Norbert Röttgen accused the Americans of having prepared the meeting between the US President and the North Korean ruler „not particularly qualified“.
In China, however, one sees the encounter seemingly less critical. People’s Congress spokesman Zhang Yesui gave a positive picture at a press conference in Beijing – and rated the summit as „constructive“. Both sides finally wanted to continue their dialogue, he pointed out.
The nuclear dispute is a „very complicated and delicate problem“ that can not be resolved with one or two meetings, Zhang Yesui said. The key is to the right direction with the goal of nuclear disarmament and a peace solution on the Korean peninsula. Both sides should show „goodwill and patience,“ said Zhang Yesui, who is also a former foreign minister and has long been involved in negotiations with North Korea on a solution to the nuclear dispute.
The second summit between Trump and Kim ends on Thursday in Hanoi surprisingly without a final statement. Both sides have come closer to the central issue of the dismantling of the North Korean nuclear arsenal and the consideration of the United States.
Trump blames Democrats
Trump himself blamed the opposition Democrats for the failed summit with Kim. The Co-ordinate hearing of his former lawyer Michael Cohen had a negative impact on the course of the summit. „Trump tweeted. In Hanoi the Demolition of the Summit: „Sometimes you just have to go.“
Cohen had used his testimony before the congress on Wednesday for a harsh reckoning with his former boss, whom he described as „cheaters“ and „racists.“ In his Twitter message, the president said on Sunday his ramblings about it: „Nobody has ever done that while the president is abroad – shame!“ He wrote: „The fact that the Democrats listen to a condemned liar and cheater in public session, coinciding with the very important nuclear summit with North Korea, may be a new low in American politics.“
China is North Korea’s most important ally. On Tuesday, the People’s Congress in the country will begin its annual meeting, which will be held until March 15. The prelude is given by Prime Minister Li Keqiang with his statement of account, which is likely to state lower growth for the second largest economy. In the previous year, Li had called „about 6.5 percent“ as the target for 2018, in the end, 6.6 percent. It was the slowest growth in nearly three decades against the background of the US trade.
