Trump ‘very impressed’ with Xi, says China isn’t a currency manipulator

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, Front) and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump (L, Front) take a walk in the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the United States, April 7, 2017.  (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he was very impressed with President Xi Jinping of China, and that the two leaders had “a very good chemistry together.”

The two leaders met for the first time last week at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The meeting was described as “positive and fruitful.”

“We had a very good bonding. I think we had a very good chemistry together,” Trump told a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday. “I was very impressed with President Xi,” he said.

The two leaders followed up the successful summit on Tuesday night in a telephone call, which was initiated by Trump. The two leaders exchanged views on issues of mutual interest. The White House said the call was “very productive.” In the press conference, Trump said he spoke with a gentleman “that I’ve gotten to know.” “I’ve spent a lot of time with him.” Trump said.

Trump’s press conference came shortly after the release of an interview he gave to The Wall Street Journal, in which he said China is not a currency manipulator. “They’re not currency manipulators,” Trump said in the interview.

In the interview, Trump again complained that the U.S. dollar is “too strong.” “I think our dollar is getting too strong, and partially that’s my fault because people have confidence in me,” he said.

China has repeatedly stated that it has not been manipulating its currency, and many economists agree. The International Monetary Fund declared the Renminbi as “no longer undervalued” in 2015.

Xinhua contributed to this story.