about support for taiwan in the event of a piercy attack. clifford hart, national security council's china and taiwan director formally, thank you for speaking to us. we will find out very soon if us presidentjoe biden talks about taiwan and the south china sea in remarks he is expected to deliver after talking to china's president, xijinping. they talked forfour china's president, xijinping. they talked for four hours at an estate near san francisco, they took a nice stroll in the garden afterwards as well. this of course is the first meeting between the two leaders for a year and a day. they last met in bali at the 620 last year. and we may be seeing... no, not president bidenjust and we may be seeing... no, not president biden just yet. you are looking at pictures of the press conference, where we are expecting us presidentjoe biden to deliver remarks after his meeting with china's resident, xijinping. this meeting comes after a year, the first face—to—face meeting they've had for a year, but a time when relations are really deteriorating over military conflicts, drug—trafficking and artificial intelligence. they are expected... they were expected to talk about all of those things, we will hear if they came to any agreements shortly. we can cross over to taiwan and our correspondent rupert wingfield—hayes. has there been any reaction to this meeting where you are? he any reaction to this meeting where you are?— where you are? no formal reaction — where you are? no formal reaction from _ where you are? no formal reaction from the - where you are? no formal - reaction from the government so far but taiwan watches these things very closely indeed because america is taiwan's most important ally. china is seen here as an enormous threat because of course china claims taiwan as part of its own territory, and during the era of xijinping over the territory, and during the era of xi jinping over the last eight years, china's behaviour towards taiwan and its rhetoric towards taiwan and its rhetoric toward xi has become increasingly bellicose and aggressive, and so i think the leadership here in taiwan will be looking at these talks to see particularly the town, i think we've seen definitely a significant softening of china's town in dealing with the united states, think that will be seen as a positive thing here in taiwan. the other thing here in taiwan. the other thing we understand is that, we have just heard from the chinese state media that the us and china will resume military to military communication and again, that is something that i think will be welcomed here. we've seen these very close encounters between the us navy and us air force aircraft and ships in the south china sea and in the east china sea, particularly in the south china sea in recent months, coming very close to each other. there is no communication, has been no communication between the us military and the chinese military and the chinese military for some time now so i think a resumption of communications will be seen as very positive here. but i think taiwan will want to see action, not just words, taiwan will want to see action, notjust words, because this hostility, this warfare that has been going on around taiwan over the last year in particular is extremely disturbing for the people here, for the government here, and they want to see whether this easing of town between the us and china also means an easing back on this military pressure on taiwan. back on this military pressure on taiwan-— back on this military pressure on taiwan. what is the feeling on taiwan. what is the feeling on the ground, _ on taiwan. what is the feeling on the ground, ruppert? - on taiwan. what is the feeling on the ground, ruppert? how| on taiwan. what is the feeling i on the ground, ruppert? how do ordinary people in taiwan view the relationship between china and the us?— and the us? well, they view it is absolutely _ and the us? well, they view it is absolutely vital _ and the us? well, they view it is absolutely vital to _ and the us? well, they view it is absolutely vital to their - is absolutely vital to their own interests. there is no one opinion in taiwan, this is an open democratic society, people have all sorts of different opinions. there are people here who will say america is more —— america's more hostile attitude to china is bad for taiwan, there are those who say it is china that is the aggressive one and america needs to be tougher towards china in order tougher towards china in order to notjust protect american interests but to protect the interests but to protect the interests of other countries in this region, taiwan, the philippines and japan. so there is a broad range of opinions here but essentially, the most dark matter broadest opinion if you like is that you will want the status quo to remain here, they want peace across the taiwan straits, the one in china to be talking to each other and engaging with each other, but they also want china to recognise that the government here is a legitimate government here is a legitimate government that represents the people of taiwan and they need to be talking to taiwan as well and there has been no communication between beijing and taiwan for the last eight years. and taiwan for the last eight ears. ~ ., , and taiwan for the last eight ears. ~ . , , ., years. we are seeing the senior dignitaries _ years. we are seeing the senior dignitaries from _ years. we are seeing the senior dignitaries from the _ years. we are seeing the senior dignitaries from the us, - years. we are seeing the senior dignitaries from the us, us - dignitaries from the us, us officials just dignitaries from the us, us officialsjust coming dignitaries from the us, us officials just coming out, presumably waiting for president biden. john kerry and the secretary of state antony blinken as well as the national security adviserjohn kirby. while we wait for president biden to come out. what would taiwan's government want when it comes to its own country? what agreements wouldn't like to see come out this meeting? —— but would it alike. well, president biden said before the meeting that he would bring up theissue meeting that he would bring up the issue of taiwan, taiwan's security and particularly the issue of interference in taiwan's electoral system. we are in the middle here in taiwan of a presidential election campaign, there will be a new president elected at the beginning of january. be a new president elected at the beginning ofjanuary. i was at a meeting last night with a specialist on interference and doubt my keys basically studying chinese interference in taiwan's election system and democratic system and media, and he described it as something like a tsunami, a deluge of misinformation coming out of china every single day under taiwan websites and news sites, cyber attacks. so taiwan feels under attack from china every day, notjust with the intrusion of chinese military aircraft across the taiwan strait and ships but also cyber attacks and massive misinformation campaign is being carried out by china. what taiwan would like to see is china respecting it as a real entity. taiwan says it is an independent country with a sovereign elected government here. china completely denies that. but i think people here would like to see a return to some sort of normalcy, and dialogue. but china needs to recognise this is a legitimately elected government here in taiwan and the need to talk to it, they would say on an equal to equal basis. beijing is not going to accept that but they used to talk to each other, the piece to have regular dialogue, between 1992 and 2014, sorry, 2016, there was regular dialogue between taiwan and beijing and that just hasn't happened for the last eight years. the situation has become extremely tense between these two sides of the taiwan strait militarily, and rhetoric, threats from china. and people here would like to see that eased and an opening of some sort of rational dialogue with beijing. identifier there are to taiwan as a country, it is of course a territory although taiwan calls itself the country. just a preview of the elections in taiwan injanuary, what's the mood they are and especially in relation to this meeting taking place today?— relation to this meeting taking place today? well, president... elections in _ place today? well, president... elections in taiwan, _ place today? well, president... elections in taiwan, like - place today? well, president... elections in taiwan, like most l elections in taiwan, like most countries, most business in the world, are thought very much on domestic issues. people here are upset about the lack of wage growth, the cost in housing, jobs for young people. very similar to what you here in britain and america, what you hear all of the world. indeed even in china. so those are the bread—and—butter issues that people are talking about on the campaign trail here, but overshadowing elections in taiwan is always the issue of china and relations with china. it's just unavoidable. what you very simplistically have is the ruling party, the democratic progressive party, which has beenin progressive party, which has been in powerfor the last eight years, is very much closer to america and thinks the way taiwan should protect itself is by building up its military and building up its relations with like—minded countries, the us, australia, japan and the philippines and so on. and you have the opposition here who say, no, look, we have the reality of china and we have to deal with china, and they are really running on a platform of, if you elect us, we will open a dialogue with china, we are the ones that beijing trusts because we are not pro—independence, we want to maintain the status quo. so that's very, very simplistically the divide between the different candidates. the ruling party says taiwan must be strong in order to resist china. the opposition say we need to talk to china in order to maintain peace. to china in order to maintain eace. , ., ., ., ~ ., peace. great to talk to you, runnert- — peace. great to talk to you, runnert- for— peace. great to talk to you, ruppert. for viewers - peace. great to talk to you, ruppert. for viewers just i ruppert. for viewers just joining us, and updates, we are still waiting for us president joe biden to come out and deliver remarks after meeting china's president, xijinping. the press conference is delayed, but we are getting reports that it is imminent, that he will come out. so far, he has said that they made real progress in the four hours of talks that they had at the estate just outside san francisco. for more, we can talk to wang wang, executive dean of the chung—yong institute for financial studies and was also the chief opinion editorfor and was also the chief opinion editor for the and was also the chief opinion editorfor the chinese communist editor for the chinese communist pa rty�*s communist party's english—language daily, the global times. thank you for 6lobal times. thank you for joining us. what are your expectations for agreements from this meeting? i expectations for agreements from this meeting?- from this meeting? i think these meetings _ from this meeting? i think these meetings are - from this meeting? i think these meetings are very i from this meeting? i think- these meetings are very good. everyone knows that china and the us... ~ everyone knows that china and the us. .. ~ , ., everyone knows that china and the us- - -_ the us. .. we seem to have problems _ the us. .. we seem to have problems with _ the us. .. we seem to have problems with that... - the us. .. we seem to have problems with that... but i the us. .. we seem to have - problems with that... but now, we all see _ problems with that... but now, we all see that _ problems with that... but now, we all see that china _ problems with that... but now, we all see that china and - problems with that... but now, we all see that china and the i we all see that china and the us still have... i think the world also looks forward to china and the us sitting together in china and the us sit together and talk not only to prevent... but more importantly to discuss world peace and development. there are too many things in the world that require cooperation between china and the us. we do a oloaise between china and the us. we do apologise for— between china and the us. we do apologise for the _ between china and the us. we do apologise for the connection, - apologise for the connection, it seems to be ok so let's try again. what do you think of the military dialogue between the two countries and the differences in their approaches?- differences in their approaches? differences in their auroaches? ~ , ., differences in their auroaches? , ., ., approaches? well, first of all for many _ approaches? well, first of all for many aspects, _ approaches? well, first of all for many aspects, the - approaches? well, first of all| for many aspects, the military forces of china and the us are unwilling to try, they are not engaging in war because we all know in the korean way of the 19505, know in the korean way of the 1950s, the chinese army was very weak but the american army prevail. the chinese military is not even more afraid of war with the us military, but chinese military hopes to maintain peace, so that's why i think now even the united states always provoke china, but chinese military still want and are willing to have dialogue so i think it's a possibility —— is the responsibility of the two hours west of how do you see us china relations panning out going forward? i think actually, now the chinese people have very low expectations of the agreement between the two countries. they see many contradictions between china and the us. but the us must respect china's 70 and core interest. so i think that from this perspective nowadays, those contradictions cannot be resolved through one single meeting, but meeting very good, but only between the two countries but also the current leaders meeting. so i think the stable relationship between the two countries is a very very good thing for the future. wang wen, good thing for the future. wang wen. thank— good thing for the future. wang wen, thank you. _ good thing for the future. wang wen, thank you. if _ good thing for the future. wang wen, thank you. if you're - good thing for the future. wang wen, thank you. if you're just l wen, thank you. if you're just joining us, you are looking at live pictures from san francisco. we are expecting us presidentjoe biden to come out and give his remarks after meeting with china's leader xi jinping. they held a four—hour meeting, we are hearing that joe biden described the talks as real progress on the chinese side we are hearing that xi jinping did telljoe biden that taiwan was the biggest and most dangerous issue in us china ties, that's according to our us official. the official quoted mr xi as saying china's preference was for peaceful reunification with the chinese claimed island of taiwan but went on to talk about conditions in which force could be used. we can also cross to beijing now and our correspondent stephen mcdonell, who joins correspondent stephen mcdonell, whojoins us. great correspondent stephen mcdonell, who joins us. great to talk to you. has there been any reaction from the chinese side to the meeting? just reaction from the chinese side to the meeting?— to the meeting? just from the ress so to the meeting? just from the press so far. _ to the meeting? just from the press so far, docked - to the meeting? just from the press so far, docked points i to the meeting? just from the | press so far, docked points for what has been said but even there you can glean some of the parties of the chinese governmentjust from the initial readouts we get from them. and indeed, this idea of global stability, them. and indeed, this idea of globalstability, of them. and indeed, this idea of global stability, of the us stepping away from increasing tensions in taiwan, these are messages coming through that the press here... but messages coming through that the press here. . ._ the press here... but also the idea that _ the press here... but also the idea that china _ the press here... but also the idea that china and _ the press here... but also the idea that china and the - the press here... but also the idea that china and the us - the press here... but also the | idea that china and the us can learn to get along with one another. xijinping needs to get the message out here that he is doing everything he can for the resumption of trade links between the two. find for the resumption of trade links between the two. and that is of course _ links between the two. and that is of course because _ links between the two. and that is of course because the - is of course because the chinese economy is in a sort of pretty difficult point at this moment, it's really been struggling with a real estate prices, youth unemployment and what have you, so even though xijinping is all powerful leader, he is feeling a lot of pressure here, he's had a terrible last 12 months politically, having to remove senior ministers that he had appointed, having to remove the leadership of the pla missile regiment, those in charge of nuclear warheads, and there is an impression that all was not well in the upper echelons of power here so he needs a good trip to china to sort of... to the us to show the chinese people that he is steering the us china relationship into calmer waters, so should have faith in him, if you like. it interesting, because you would think that the chinese economy not doing so well is just a problem for china, but going into the meeting president biden said that actually, china's economy needs to improve in order to benefit americans, and wages need to rise there. americans, and wages need to rise there-— rise there. yes, well, of course. _ rise there. yes, well, of course, this _ rise there. yes, well, of course, this giant - rise there. yes, well, of. course, this giant economy rise there. yes, well, of- course, this giant economy here is tapped in all of the world. everybody has trade with china and in a sense, the sort of sluggish global economy is dependent on the chinese economy picking up, but it goes both ways because china wants to sell more of its staff to other countries, as they emerge from all those years of covid. so both sides i think want the economy to pick up, that is china and the rest of the world, and naturally relations with the us on this front are crucial. what xijinping with the us on this front are crucial. what xi jinping would really like is for the us government to stop restricting the trade in semiconductors and the trade in semiconductors and the like. washington is not going to do that because they see this type of tech feeding into china's military modernisation, and they are trying to slow it down, i guess, and at the same time trying to catch up and even surpass the us so both sides know what's going on here, but the way it's put by beijing is that washington is sort of hindering its tech sector, and the tech sector in a funny way has been hit from both ends because there has been a crackdown here from the communist party and yet there are also having these impediments placed on them from the us side, so it has been tough for those companies and they employ a lot of young people, most the big problem here? youth unemployment. so all of those companies and the people who work there and who want to work on those companies be watching this summit and seeing, one can these leaders do to reassure us that on that front the economy will keep picking up? but problem is, it does sort of feed into all these other areas, like the military, but surveillance, really quite sensitive areas, so we may not see the big breakthrough in this, but i think the most important thing is that these two leaders are talking. so much tension around the world at the moment and we need the big superpowers to be communicating with one another... communicating with one another. . ._ communicating with one another... ., ., ., communicating with one another... �* ., ., ., ., another... i'm going to have to interrupt _ another... i'm going to have to interrupt you — another... i'm going to have to interrupt you because - another... i'm going to have to | interrupt you because president joe biden hasjust come out interrupt you because president joe biden has just come out to speak, let's have a lesson. == speak, let's have a lesson. -- miaht speak, let's have a lesson. -- might listen. _ speak, let's have a lesson. —— might listen. please, have a seat — might listen. please, have a seat i— might listen. please, have a seat. ijust had a meeting with president _ seat. ijust had a meeting with president xi, i believe some of the most — president xi, i believe some of the most productive and useful discussions we've had. i have been — discussions we've had. i have been meeting him since i was first— been meeting him since i was first vice _ been meeting him since i was first vice president over 12 years— first vice president over 12 years ago. we haven't always agreed — years ago. we haven't always agreed but today we bought on the ground work we made over the ground work we made over the past — the ground work we made over the past several months of high—level diplomacy between her teens. we have made some important — her teens. we have made some important progress. first, pleased _ important progress. first, pleased to announce that after many — pleased to announce that after many years of being on hold we are restarting cooperation between the united states and the prc— between the united states and the prc on countering narcotics. in 2019, you may remember, china took action to greatly— remember, china took action to greatly reduce the amount of fentanyl— greatly reduce the amount of fentanyl shipped directly from china — fentanyl shipped directly from china to — fentanyl shipped directly from china to the united states. challenges involved to finished fentanyl to chemical rains which _ fentanyl to chemical rains which were being shipped without control, by the way some — without control, by the way some of— without control, by the way some of these were going to be inserted — some of these were going to be inserted in other drugs like cocaine _ inserted in other drugs like cocaine and a lot of people would _ cocaine and a lot of people would die. more people in the united — would die. more people in the united states between the ages of 18 and 49 from guns or any of18 and 49 from guns or any other— of 18 and 49 from guns or any other cause, period. so today with— other cause, period. so today with this— other cause, period. so today with this new understanding, we are taking — with this new understanding, we are taking action to significantly reduce the flow of precursor chemicals and pill platters— of precursor chemicals and pill platters from china to the western hemisphere. it's going to save — western hemisphere. it's going to save lives and i appreciate president xi's commitment on this issue _ president xi's commitment on this issue. we cast our teams to maintain policy and law enforcement coordination going forward — enforcement coordination going forward to make sure it works. i forward to make sure it works. i also — forward to make sure it works. i also want _ forward to make sure it works. i also want to thank the congressional delegation to china — congressional delegation to china for their support. secondly, and this is a critically important matter, we are resuming military to military— are resuming military to military direct contact. that has — military direct contact. that has been _ military direct contact. that has been cut off and that's how accidents— has been cut off and that's how accidents happening, misunderstandings, so we're back— misunderstandings, so we're back to — misunderstandings, so we're back to open and the direct communications on a direct basis — communications on a direct basis a _ communications on a direct basis. a lot of this calculation is another side can cause — calculation is another side can cause real— calculation is another side can cause real trouble with a country _ cause real trouble with a country like china or any other major— country like china or any other major country. so i think we will— major country. so i think we will progress —— we made real progress _ will progress —— we made real progress there as well. thirdly. _ progress there as well. thirdly, we will get experts together to discuss risks associated with artificial intelligence. almost everywhere i intelligence. almost everywhere i go. _ intelligence. almost everywhere i go, every major leader wants to talk— i go, every major leader wants to talk about the impact of artificial— to talk about the impact of artificial intelligence. these are tangible steps in the right direction _ are tangible steps in the right direction to determine what is his form — direction to determine what is his form what is not what is dangerous and what is acceptable. moreover, there is evidence — acceptable. moreover, there is evidence of cases that i have made — evidence of cases that i have made all— evidence of cases that i have made all along, the united states— made all along, the united states will continue to deal with— states will continue to deal with the prc but we will manage that responsibly so it doesn't cause — that responsibly so it doesn't cause accidental conflict and where — cause accidental conflict and where possible, where our interests are coinciding, we were — interests are coinciding, we were back together like we did on fentanyl. that's what the world — on fentanyl. that's what the world expects of us. notjust people — world expects of us. notjust people in— world expects of us. notjust people in china and the united states— people in china and the united states but the rest of the world _ states but the rest of the world expects that of us and that's— world expects that of us and that's what the united states is going — that's what the united states is going to be doing. today president xi and i also exchanged views on a range of global— exchanged views on a range of global issues including russia's refusal and brutal war to stop — russia's refusal and brutal war to stop the war of aggression against — to stop the war of aggression against ukraine, and also the conflict — against ukraine, and also the conflict in _ against ukraine, and also the conflict in gaza. i also raised concerns _ conflict in gaza. i also raised concerns about the piercing action— concerns about the piercing action including detaining us citizens _ action including detaining us citizens. we discussed all those _ citizens. we discussed all those things and i give him names— those things and i give him names of individuals who we think— names of individuals who we think they're being held and hopefully we can get them released as well. but no agreement on that. i also stressed the importance of peace _ stressed the importance of peace and stability in the taiwan— peace and stability in the taiwan strait. it's clear that we object to these nonmarket economic practices and that disadvantages american businesses and workers and we will continue to address them. i welcome the steps we have taken — i welcome the steps we have taken today are less important for the — taken today are less important for the world to see that we are implementing the approach in the _ are implementing the approach in the best traditions of american diplomacy. we are talking — american diplomacy. we are talking to our competitors and 'ust talking to our competitors and just talking, just being blunt with— just talking, just being blunt with one another so there is no misunderstanding. in the months ahead, _ misunderstanding. in the months ahead, we — misunderstanding. in the months ahead, we are going to be continuing to pursue high—level diplomacy with the prc in both directions, to keep the lines of communication open, including between president xi and me — including between president xi and me. he and i agree that we should — and me. he and i agree that we should be — and me. he and i agree that we should be able to pick up the phone — should be able to pick up the phone and be heard immediately. iwill_ phone and be heard immediately. twill be _ phone and be heard immediately. i will be able to take some questions. i'm told that dimitri _ questions. i'm told that dimitri from the financial tinfes— dimitri from the financial times is— dimitri from the financial times is the first one. thank ou. times is the first one. thank you- and _ times is the first one. thank you- and as _ times is the first one. thank you. and as an _ times is the first one. thank you. and as an irishman - times is the first one. thank you. and as an irishman i. you. and as an irishman i apologisem _ you. and as an irishman i apologise... given- you. and as an irishman i apologise... given della i you. and as an irishman i- apologise... given della does it alter— apologise... given della does it alter your— apologise... given della does it alter your previous - it alter your previous commitment - it alter your previous commitment to- it alter your previous . commitment to defend it alter your previous - commitment to defend taiwan it alter your previous _ commitment to defend taiwan and did xi _ commitment to defend taiwan and did xi jinping — commitment to defend taiwan and did xi jinping outline _ commitment to defend taiwan and did xi jinping outline the _ did xi jinping outline the conditions _ did xi jinping outline the conditions under- did xi jinping outline the conditions under which i did xi jinping outline the - conditions under which china would — conditions under which china would attack— conditions under which china would attack taiwan - conditions under which china would attack taiwan quicklyl conditions under which chinaj would attack taiwan quickly i reiterated _ would attack taiwan quickly i reiterated what _ would attack taiwan quickly i reiterated what i— would attack taiwan quickly i reiterated what i have - would attack taiwan quickly i reiterated what i have said . reiterated what i have said since — reiterated what i have said since i_ reiterated what i have said since i have _ reiterated what i have said since i have became - reiterated what i have said - since i have became prevalent dour— since i have became prevalent dour president. _ since i have became prevalent dour president.— dour president. that we maintain _ dour president. that we maintain an _ dour president. that we maintain an agreement| dour president. that we - maintain an agreement that there — maintain an agreement that there is— maintain an agreement that there is one china policy, and that— there is one china policy, and that i'm — there is one china policy, and that i'm not going to change that, — that i'm not going to change that, is— that i'm not going to change that, is not going to change. and — that, is not going to change. and so— that, is not going to change. and so that's about the extent of which — and so that's about the extent of which we discussed it. next question _ of which we discussed it. next question. if of which we discussed it. next cuestion. , ., ., question. if there is among other issues _ question. if there is among other issues that _ question. if there is among other issues that you - question. if there is among - other issues that you agreement over a _ other issues that you agreement over a fentanyl _ other issues that you agreement over a fentanyl would _ other issues that you agreement over a fentanyl would require - other issues that you agreement over a fentanyl would require a i over a fentanyl would require a lot of— over a fentanyl would require a lot of trust— over a fentanyl would require a lot of trust in _ over a fentanyl would require a lot of trust in verification, - over a fentanyl would require a lot of trust in verification, i- lot of trust in verification, i wonder— lot of trust in verification, i wonder after— lot of trust in verification, i wonder after today- lot of trust in verification, i wonder after today and - wonder after today and considering _ wonder after today and considering all- wonder after today and considering all that - wonder after today andj considering all that you wonder after today and - considering all that you have been — considering all that you have been through— considering all that you have been through in _ considering all that you have been through in the - considering all that you have been through in the past - considering all that you have i been through in the past year, would — been through in the past year, would you _ been through in the past year, would you say— been through in the past year, would you say that _ been through in the past year, would you say that you - been through in the past year, would you say that you trust . would you say that you trust president _ would you say that you trust president xi? _ would you say that you trust president xi? and _ would you say that you trust president xi? and secondlyl would you say that you trustl president xi? and secondly if would you say that you trust. president xi? and secondly if i could, — president xi? and secondly if i could, taiwan, _ president xi? and secondly if i could, taiwan, you _ president xi? and secondly if i could, taiwan, you and - president xi? and secondly if i could, taiwan, you and your. could, taiwan, you and your administration _ could, taiwan, you and your administration have - could, taiwan, you and your administration have warnedl administration have warned president _ administration have warned president xi _ administration have warned president xi and _ administration have warned president xi and chen - administration have warned| president xi and chen about interference _ president xi and chen about interference in _ president xi and chen about interference in the - president xi and chen abouti interference in the upcoming election. _ interference in the upcoming election, wonder— interference in the upcoming election, wonder what - interference in the upcoming election, wonder what with l interference in the upcoming . election, wonder what with the consequences _ election, wonder what with the consequences be _ election, wonder what with the consequences be if— election, wonder what with the consequences be if they- election, wonder what with the consequences be if they do - election, wonder what with the consequences be if they do in i consequences be if they do in to -- — consequences be if they do in to -- in— consequences be if they do in to -- in fact _ consequences be if they do in to —— in fact interfere? - consequences be if they do in to —— in fact interfere? [- consequences be if they do in to -- in fact interfere?- to -- in fact interfere? i have had that _ to -- in fact interfere? i have had that discussion _ to -- in fact interfere? i have had that discussion with - to -- in fact interfere? i have had that discussion with him | had that discussion with him also, — had that discussion with him also, i— had that discussion with him also, i made clear i didn't expect— also, i made clear i didn't expect any offence, any at all. -- for— expect any offence, any at all. -- for any— expect any offence, any at all. —— forany interference. expect any offence, any at all. —— for any interference. do i trust — —— for any interference. do i trust we _ —— for any interference. do i trust we are a competitive relationship. but my responsibility is to make this rational— responsibility is to make this rational and manageable. so that— rational and manageable. so that it — rational and manageable. so that it doesn't end in conflict. that's what i'm all about, _ conflict. that's what i'm all about, that's what this is about _ about, that's what this is about. to find a place where we can come — about. to find a place where we can come together and where we find mutual interest, but most importantly from my perspective, the interests of the american people, that's what — the american people, that's what this is about. and that's exactly— what this is about. and that's exactly what we will do, you know. — exactly what we will do, you know. we _ exactly what we will do, you know, we are in a situation where _ know, we are in a situation where we _ know, we are in a situation where we agree that fentanyl in its precursors will be curbed substantially, and the pill pressures, and by the way, i guess— pressures, and by the way, i guess i— pressures, and by the way, i guess i shouldn't identify where _ guess i shouldn't identify where it occurred, but i know two _ where it occurred, but i know two people near where i live, their— two people near where i live, their kids. _ two people near where i live, their kids, they will come dead and it— their kids, they will come dead and it was— their kids, they will come dead and it was said to have been taking — and it was said to have been taking fentanyl. i hope you don't — taking fentanyl. i hope you don't have experience of this, but this— don't have experience of this, but this is— don't have experience of this, but this is the widest colour of people in every age category. —— make killer. i guess— category. —— make killer. i guess the— category. —— make killer. i guess the other thing i think is most _ guess the other thing i think is most important is that... i have — is most important is that... i have spent— is most important is that... i have spent more time with president xi than any world leader— president xi than any world leader has, just because we were — leader has, just because we were vice president is, his president and president 0bama felt we — president and president 0bama felt we should get to one another. so we met, ithink felt we should get to one another. so we met, i think it was _ another. so we met, i think it was 68 — another. so we met, i think it was 68 hours, face—to—face, just— was 68 hours, face—to—face, just us— was 68 hours, face—to—face, just us and _ was 68 hours, face—to—face, just us and a simultaneous interpreter. so i think i know the man. _ interpreter. so i think i know the man. i_ interpreter. so i think i know the man, i know his modus operandi, _ the man, i know his modus operandi, we have disagreements, he has a different view than i have on a lot of— different view than i have on a lot of different things, but he's — lot of different things, but he's been straight. i don't mean _ he's been straight. i don't mean good or bad, he'sjust been — mean good or bad, he'sjust been straight. so we, as i said. _ been straight. so we, as i said. the _ been straight. so we, as i said, the thing i find most reassuring is he raised, and i fully— reassuring is he raised, and i fully agreed, that neither