SAN FRANCISCO, November 16 (Reuters) – Freeport-McMoRan Inc ( FCX.N ) CEO Richard Adkerson said on Thursday he was “encouraged” by signs of improving relations between the world’s two largest economies, including talks held this week between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“The world would be a better place if there was a reasonable relationship between China and the United States,” Adkerson said on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in San Francisco.
“We have to wait and see if it is a watershed moment or not,” he said, adding that the problems dividing the two countries are serious.
“This is not a situation where there will be a magic wand to deal with all the issues of concern between the two countries.”
Freeport is the world’s largest publicly traded copper producer, with operations across North and South America. China is the largest consumer of copper in the world.
The company also operates the Grasberg mine in Indonesia, which is the world’s largest gold mine and second largest copper mine.
Although a much smaller economy than China, Indonesia’s place in the world is of increasing importance, Adkerson said, although “over the years, the appreciation of Indonesia’s strategic importance within the United States has not been adequate.”
One sign that this appreciation is beginning to change has been Meeting with Biden earlier this week in Washington with Indonesian President Joko Widodo as part of preparations for the APEC summit, Adkerson said.
“All reports are that it was a great meeting, despite the Middle East issues, which are very important and challenging,” he said.
Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, in that meeting pressed Biden to do more to stop Israel’s bombing of Gaza.
“I know Indonesia wants to have good relations with the United States, they want good relations with China,” Adkerson said. “The United States must give attention, consideration and support to countries like Indonesia, and we will be better for it.”
(Reporting by Ann Saphir; Editing by Stephen Coates)
((Ann.Saphir@thomsonreuters.com; 312-593-8342; www.twitter.com/annsaphir; Reuters Messaging: ann.saphir.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
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