China, U.S. conduct professional, candid talks: senior Chinese official

China and the United States have over the past two days conducted professional, rational, in-depth and candid exchanges, said a senior Chinese official on Tuesday.

Li Chenggang, China's international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice minister of commerce, made the remarks when briefing the press following the first meeting of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism held in London.

The two sides have agreed in principle the framework for implementing consensus between the two heads of state during their phone talks on June 5, as well as those reached at Geneva talks, Li said.

It is hoped that progress made at the London meeting will be conducive to strengthening trust between China and the United States, and to further promoting the steady and healthy development of economic and trade ties between the two countries, according to him.

China, U.S. conduct professional, candid talks: senior Chinese official

China, U.S. conduct professional, candid talks: senior Chinese official

China, U.S. conduct professional, candid talks: senior Chinese official

China, U.S. conduct professional, candid talks: senior Chinese official

China, U.S. conduct professional, candid talks: senior Chinese official

China, U.S. conduct professional, candid talks: senior Chinese official

U.S. President Donald Trump said he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after the alliance failed to join the attacks on Iran, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday.

When asked if he would reconsider America's membership in the alliance after the conflict, he said the question is "beyond reconsideration," adding, "I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger."

Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with NATO for "not being there," saying it was "actually hard to believe."

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Trump would make a decision on the future of NATO given the fact that some U.S. allies refuse to provide support, after the end of U.S. military operations against Iran.

Following Trump's criticism, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is not changing his position on the war.

Multiple European countries have kept their distance from the conflict with Iran. Starmer on Monday said his country will not get dragged into the conflict "whatever the pressure and whoever it's coming from," while Spain on Monday closed its airspace to all flights related to the U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran.

Trump calls NATO 'paper tiger,' considers withdrawal