00:00Jorge Heine is a former Chilean ambassador to China, also author of the book Traversing the Belt and Road,
00:07The World According to China and China According to the World.
00:10Jorge, thank you so much for joining us.
00:12I want to start by looking at two specific areas of agreement.
00:16First of all, that no country should halt free movement in any waterway, international waterway,
00:21and that Iran keeps to its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons.
00:25How significant is it that we've got the world's two most powerful leaders agreeing on these two issues?
00:33I think it is very significant.
00:36Obviously, the more progress can be made to bring in peace to this very tragic conflict in the Middle East,
00:42the better we all are.
00:43Now, having said that, it seems to me that the real question is whether Iran will agree on these principles,
00:54on these notions.
00:56Right now, it seems to me that the United States is stuck in a war that it started for no
01:01reason,
01:02and the way forward is quite unclear.
01:06So, while I welcome this agreement between China and the United States on these issues,
01:12it isn't obvious that they will necessarily mean a breakthrough in the war in Iran.
01:18I also want to focus on this agreement between the two leaders to establish an ongoing AI dialogue.
01:26We know that they don't see eye to eye exactly on how AI should be governed globally,
01:32but how crucial is it that there is this agreement to keep talking,
01:36and I believe there will be more discussions in November?
01:40Well, it is absolutely crucial.
01:42The United States and China are by far the most significant sort of AI superpowers, if you will.
01:49No country comes even close in terms of the development of this extraordinary technology.
01:54So, that they talk about it and have some sort of channel of communication is vital.
02:00Yet, differences remain.
02:03President Trump, as I understand it, believes in sort of the unfettered development and growth of AI.
02:09The Chinese view is a bit more cautious, a bit more skeptical.
02:13So, whether they will reach an agreement in the end is unclear.
02:17But for now, I think it is important that there is a channel of communication.
02:22Secretary of the Treasury, Bassett, has said that there will be some sort of hotline between the two governments,
02:28and that is welcome.
02:30Also, we know that the trade truce has been extended by another two months,
02:33and there is this board of trade.
02:35They are going to be looking at this reciprocal tariff deal covering $30 billion worth of goods on each side.
02:41Do you think this is a fundamental route to reducing this trade tension?
02:47Well, look, total trade between the United States and China last year was around $500 billion.
02:54So, in that context, you know, $30 billion is, you know, a very small board.
03:00Now, the board of trade issue is important.
03:04I hope that works out.
03:06I understand the trade truce, so-called, has been extended from 10 November to 10 January.
03:13I think the more important question is whether that particular truce can be extended, you know, for a year or
03:19two.
03:19I think that will be more important than the $30 billion that, in the larger scheme of things, is really,
03:25you know, quite small.
03:27Thank you so much for speaking to us, Jorge Heine, former Chilean ambassador to China.
