US secretary of state says first meeting with Chinese FM 'constructive and positive'

ISTANBUL

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that his first meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was “constructive and positive,” and there is a high probability of a meeting between the US and Chinese presidents.

“Obviously there are some issues we’re going to have to work through and that’s to be expected with countries of our size and scope and influence in the world,” he said.

“But I thought it was a very constructive and positive meeting and gave us some things we can work on together,” Rubio told reporters after his meeting with Wang Yi. “Neither side warned against each other on anything.”

Asked about the probability of a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping this year, Rubio said “the odds are high” but the two sides have to “build the right atmosphere and the right deliverables.”

“We didn't discuss any specific date in mind in that regard, but the reason why I tell you, there's a high probability they're going to meet,” Rubio said.

“There’s a strong desire on both sides to do it … I don’t have a date for you but I think it’s coming. It will happen,” Rubio added.

He said the meeting with Wang “was not about negotiations” but establishing a “constructive baseline,” including on trade and “beyond,” stressing that the two nations “have to have” relations and maintain communication.

According to a statement from the US State Department, Rubio emphasized "importance of keeping channels of communication open."

"The discussion was constructive and pragmatic," the statement said about Rubio's meeting with Wang.

It added that the two sides "agreed to explore areas of potential cooperation, while seeking to manage differences."

Rubio emphasized the need for "continued discussion on a range of bilateral issues."

US, NATO pact on Ukraine

Regarding Trump’s announcement of an agreement between the US and NATO to get new weaponry to Ukraine, Rubio said the agreement was something that “Ukraine has already offered.”

He said the deal “is to buy weapons from the United States and then provide them to Ukraine at the end of the day,” as Europe does not produce some of the weapon systems that Kyiv needs such as the Patriot missiles.

In an interview with NBC News on Thursday, Trump said "we're sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%."