Xi features at Trump-Macron talk

US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron react during a press conference on Thursday in Paris. Both leaders commented on China and their relationship with President Xi Jinping, in reponse to a Chinese reporter's question. [Photo/Agencies]

A press conference between US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday at one point turned into impromptu discourse on China and its leader.

Perhaps in keeping with his penchant for needling the American media, Trump gave his second question to a Chinese journalist instead of an American one.

Joint press conferences that US presidents hold with foreign leaders traditionally include two questions from reporters from the host nation and two from the visiting nation.

Trump gave the first American question to an ABC News reporter. Near the end of the press conference, instead of an American reporter, Trump called on a Chinese journalist, who identified himself as a reporter for Phoenix TV of China. The reporter, Yan Ming, asked Trump about his relationship with President Xi Jinping.

"You have just met with the Chinese president during the G20 Summit," Yan asked. "How do you want to continue to work with China, and what do you personally think about Mr. Xi Jinping?"

"Well he's a friend of mine," Trump said. "I have great respect for him. We've gotten to know each other very well. A great leader; he's a very talented man. I think he's a very good man. He loves China. He wants to do what's right for China.

"We've asked him for some assistance with respect to North Korea, probably he could do a little bit more, but we'll find out. We're now working on some trade deals.

"He's let beef (exports) go back in, certain financing go back in, credit card financing and various other things go back in at my request, which is a great thing for our farmers. We're going to be working on some very major trade components.

"President Xi is a terrific guy. I like being with him a lot, and he's a very special person," Trump concluded.

Macron said he first met Xi on the sidelines of last week's G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany.

"Early next year I will be traveling to China," Macron said. "We had some initial contacts which were extremely fruitful and positive. I have a lot of respect for President Xi over the past few months he did express his willingness to have a vision for multilateralism.

"Many of us remember his words in Davos," where he "very strongly expressed his vision of the role of China. We have a number of joint commitments, including on climate, he's very committed to that."

Macron said there have been some differences, but "as permanent members of the (UN) Security Council, we want to work together on all of the topics we've been discussing today".

Macron said Xi is "one of the great leaders of our world (who is) implementing a major, ambitious reform of China the society and economy."

The New York Times and Associated Press reporters were miffed about who got to ask the questions.

"Macron said the final question should go to an American journalist," The Times' Maggie Haberman wrote. "POTUS did not call on a US journalist."

"Seems like a clear violation of protocol for this question not to go to an American journalist," tweeted Jonathan Lemire, a White House reporter for AP.

"Like the members of the White House press corps, the president wants a free press, and he can call on any reporter he chooses," Deputy White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told CNN.

williamhennelly@chinadailyusa.com