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Published on 04-05-2019 03:55 PM
Remarks by President Trump and Vice Premier Liu He of the People’s Republic of China Before Bilateral Meeting
Issued on: April 4, 2019
Washington, DC - - Today, the U.S. White House provided the following transcript of Remarks by President Trump and Vice Premier Liu He of the People’s Republic of China Before Bilateral Meeting:
Oval Office
4:31 P.M. EDT
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much. It’s a great honor to be with the Vice Premier of China, a highly respected man all over the world. We’ve had tremendous discussions. We’re getting very close to making a deal. That doesn’t mean a deal is made, because it’s not, but we’re certainly getting a lot closer. And I would think with — oh, within the next four weeks or maybe less, maybe more — whatever it takes — something very monumental could be announced.
We very much appreciate the letter from President Xi, who — recently, just now, I was handed a beautiful letter. I appreciate that. And I also, maybe in particular — I’m very happy to read these headlines that just came out: “China Bans All Types of Fentanyl, Cutting Supply of Deadly Drug to the United States and Fulfilling a Pledge to President Trump.” “China Announces New Crackdown on Fentanyl.” A terrific thing for the United States.
And a letter from our great Ambassador, Terry Branstad, saying exactly this: that China is reclassifying fentanyl and there will criminal penalties if you sell fentanyl. And, as you know, there weren’t any in the past. So this is a very big, big step, and we really appreciate it, from President Xi and from the Vice Premier.
We are rounding the turn. We’ll
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