Agreement Between the US and China to Strengthen Bilateral Relations

Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State, and Xi Jinping, the President of China, committed on Sunday, March 19, during their talks to work together to strengthen bilateral relations despite differences over North Korea and trade. According to AFP, Tillerson's meeting with Xi was the final stage of his two-day visit to China. Before China, the US Secretary of State had visited South Korea and Japan. The meeting between Rex Tillerson and Xi Jinping occurred hours after North Korea conducted a missile test. North Korea announced on Sunday that it had tested a high-thrust advanced engine for use in a missile. The official North Korean news agency stated that the tested engine would help the country achieve "global high-capacity" in satellite launches. According to the news agency, Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, stated that "the world will soon witness the glorious results of today's victorious test." North Korea has conducted nuclear tests five times and has tested various types of its own manufactured missiles. Analysts generally believe that Pyongyang is attempting to miniaturize nuclear warheads, or in other words, mount them on missiles, and is also striving to successfully develop long-range missiles that can reach US territory. In a New Year's message, the North Korean leader stated, "We are in the final stages of testing an intercontinental ballistic missile," and that Pyongyang is "now the military power of the East, and even its strongest enemy cannot take any action against it." The report regarding the new missile engine test was released hours after the US Secretary of State warned in Beijing about the "dangerous escalation" of tensions on the Korean Peninsula. According to AFP, Xi Jinping told the US Secretary of State that during a phone call last month with Donald Trump, the President of the United States, they agreed on efforts to enhance relations between the two countries, adding that they believe they can be assured that "a new era of constructive relations" is ahead for both countries. He also welcomed the "progress" resulting from Tillerson's visit to China and expressed hope that relations between Beijing and Washington would enter a new phase. Rex Tillerson also stated that Donald Trump, the President of the United States, "places a very high value on the communications that have currently taken shape." According to the US Secretary of State, Washington "believes that through further negotiations, a better understanding can be reached, which will guide the strengthening of relations between the two parties and direct the future of our cooperation." The conversation between the US Secretary of State and Chinese officials in Beijing took place while Donald Trump, alongside criticisms of China's economic policies, also criticized its approach to North Korea and the "lack of effort" to end the crisis arising from Pyongyang's nuclear and military activities. He tweeted on Friday, March 17, "North Korea's behavior is very bad. They have been 'playing' with the United States for years. China has done very little to help (in this regard)." China is North Korea's most important political supporter and is also considered one of the main buyers of its raw products, which are significant sources of income for Pyongyang.