04-10-2020, 08:44 AM
Wednesday, April 8th
Laeralsford
"Ambassador Quetmiilnaxī seemed pleased to visit with us," Texōccoatl said as their official vehicle arrived at their next destination. Nōlinyauh snorted slightly at that. "That's an understated way to put it," the Secretary replied. "I don't know if poor Quetmiilnaxī was excited to have a Crown Prince and his boss visiting, or just excited to have anyone visiting at all," Nōlinyauh added with a laugh. "We have, admittedly, not had the good Ambassador very busy here."
The Xiomeran embassy in Laeral, like most Xiomeran embassies in countries that weren't openly allied with the Empire, had been a relatively small affair. Most IDU nations, after all, hadn't been horribly interested in pursuing close relations with a nation that was a regional boogeyman. Since Yauhmi had taken the throne, however, most Xiomeran embassies were being expanded, and a new push being made to pursue actual and functional relationships with other countries. The Xiomeran embassy in Laeralsford was already showing signs of that, with remodeling and modernization quite apparent to the two high-ranking visitors from back home. "Quetmiilnaxī did seem to have a bit of pep in his step," Texōccoatl smiled. "Hopefully after this visit, he'll have a lot more to do."
The two Xiomerans exited their vehicle at the Ministry of Trade, admiring the scenery for a brief moment. "Before we go in, make sure to remind me to nudge mother on appointing a new Secretary of Trade. I'm not at all upset that she 'convinced' that idiot Xocolcōza to resign, but we can't leave that position with just an acting Secretary forever...especially if these talks go well," the Crown Prince added. Nōlinyauh nodded, making a brief note on his tablet before the two men were led inside the building.
After being led to a well-appointed waiting room, and allowed to relax for a bit, they were led into the office of Raoul Chen. The Laeralite Minister of Trade was, in his way, quite similar to Texōccoatl - a young, vigorous leader with a carefully cultivated air of dynamism, and an equally cultivated appearance. Something tells me these two are going to get along quite well, Nōlinyauh thought with a smile as Chen jumped up from behind his desk to offer both men a firm-but-not-too-firm handshake. "Your majesty, and Secretary Nōlinyauh, it's an honor to be seeing you today. Please have a seat," he said, offering the two Xiomerans chairs.
After a bit of standard small talk and refreshments, Texōccoatl laid down his teacup. "I'm glad we are of similar mindset in many ways," he said. "No offense to my elder statesman mentor here, but I do think it's safe to say that younger leaders such as ourselves are going to be the future of our respective nations, so it's good that we get along," he added, with a wink at Nōlinyauh.
"With appropriate guidance from us fossils, to be sure, who are the present," Nōlinyauh replied with a slight smirk.
"Absolutely," Chen replied eagerly. "We're grateful for leadership from those who have come before us, but I do agree that we're likely to be the future for our two countries. Since you mentioned the present, Secretary, there's no better time than the present for us to guarantee that future."
"Yes, and trade is the most fundamental way we can do that. Leaders come and go, governments do too...but prosperity is the one thing that has to remain constant, for nations to survive," Texōccoatl replied.
"You're exactly right, and our two countries would be ideal partners in that regard. We both believe in free trade, we both have advanced and successful economies, and we share similar economic goals. If we worked together on trade, there's not much limit to what we could accomplish," Chen said. "After we talk now, we have some of our economic and business leaders assembled to discuss how Xiomera and Laeral can cooperate more closely on trade. If those talks go well, I think we'd have the foundation for opening up greater ties on trade, and even cementing a formal trade agreement."
"That works for us, and we're ready to move quickly on such an agreement as well," Texōccoatl said. "Our economy is geared around trade, and also around consumption. The more we trade with others, the more we succeed. We'd be willing to come to an agreement on free trade without tariffs or restrictions, mutually reciprocal, of course."
"Of course! We can get that done," Chen nodded. "It looks like it's time for us to meet with the leaders I mentioned. Shall we?"
Texōccoatl and Nōlinyauh nodded warmly, standing up to follow Chen to a meeting room. The following discussions, with Chen and Texōccoatl pushing them along, laid the foundation for agreements to be considered by the governments of both countries for approval. At the conclusion of the discussions, Texōccoatl made sure that Chen had a direct way to get in touch with him. The same information had been provided to President Liu, but Texōccoatl wanted to make sure the trade deal hit no snags, especially with a placeholder in the Xiomeran Secretary of Trade's spot at the moment.
As the two Xiomerans departed the building, giving their farewells to a highly enthuiastic Chen, Texōccoatl and Nōlinyauh reviewed what they had accomplished. "I will say this, Raoul Chen doesn't hesitate to get things done," the Crown Prince said. "I'm impressed."
"Hmm. Not hesitating to pull the trigger. Which two royals does that trait remind me of?" Nōlinyauh replied. Texōccoatl smirked in response.
Laeralsford
"Ambassador Quetmiilnaxī seemed pleased to visit with us," Texōccoatl said as their official vehicle arrived at their next destination. Nōlinyauh snorted slightly at that. "That's an understated way to put it," the Secretary replied. "I don't know if poor Quetmiilnaxī was excited to have a Crown Prince and his boss visiting, or just excited to have anyone visiting at all," Nōlinyauh added with a laugh. "We have, admittedly, not had the good Ambassador very busy here."
The Xiomeran embassy in Laeral, like most Xiomeran embassies in countries that weren't openly allied with the Empire, had been a relatively small affair. Most IDU nations, after all, hadn't been horribly interested in pursuing close relations with a nation that was a regional boogeyman. Since Yauhmi had taken the throne, however, most Xiomeran embassies were being expanded, and a new push being made to pursue actual and functional relationships with other countries. The Xiomeran embassy in Laeralsford was already showing signs of that, with remodeling and modernization quite apparent to the two high-ranking visitors from back home. "Quetmiilnaxī did seem to have a bit of pep in his step," Texōccoatl smiled. "Hopefully after this visit, he'll have a lot more to do."
The two Xiomerans exited their vehicle at the Ministry of Trade, admiring the scenery for a brief moment. "Before we go in, make sure to remind me to nudge mother on appointing a new Secretary of Trade. I'm not at all upset that she 'convinced' that idiot Xocolcōza to resign, but we can't leave that position with just an acting Secretary forever...especially if these talks go well," the Crown Prince added. Nōlinyauh nodded, making a brief note on his tablet before the two men were led inside the building.
After being led to a well-appointed waiting room, and allowed to relax for a bit, they were led into the office of Raoul Chen. The Laeralite Minister of Trade was, in his way, quite similar to Texōccoatl - a young, vigorous leader with a carefully cultivated air of dynamism, and an equally cultivated appearance. Something tells me these two are going to get along quite well, Nōlinyauh thought with a smile as Chen jumped up from behind his desk to offer both men a firm-but-not-too-firm handshake. "Your majesty, and Secretary Nōlinyauh, it's an honor to be seeing you today. Please have a seat," he said, offering the two Xiomerans chairs.
After a bit of standard small talk and refreshments, Texōccoatl laid down his teacup. "I'm glad we are of similar mindset in many ways," he said. "No offense to my elder statesman mentor here, but I do think it's safe to say that younger leaders such as ourselves are going to be the future of our respective nations, so it's good that we get along," he added, with a wink at Nōlinyauh.
"With appropriate guidance from us fossils, to be sure, who are the present," Nōlinyauh replied with a slight smirk.
"Absolutely," Chen replied eagerly. "We're grateful for leadership from those who have come before us, but I do agree that we're likely to be the future for our two countries. Since you mentioned the present, Secretary, there's no better time than the present for us to guarantee that future."
"Yes, and trade is the most fundamental way we can do that. Leaders come and go, governments do too...but prosperity is the one thing that has to remain constant, for nations to survive," Texōccoatl replied.
"You're exactly right, and our two countries would be ideal partners in that regard. We both believe in free trade, we both have advanced and successful economies, and we share similar economic goals. If we worked together on trade, there's not much limit to what we could accomplish," Chen said. "After we talk now, we have some of our economic and business leaders assembled to discuss how Xiomera and Laeral can cooperate more closely on trade. If those talks go well, I think we'd have the foundation for opening up greater ties on trade, and even cementing a formal trade agreement."
"That works for us, and we're ready to move quickly on such an agreement as well," Texōccoatl said. "Our economy is geared around trade, and also around consumption. The more we trade with others, the more we succeed. We'd be willing to come to an agreement on free trade without tariffs or restrictions, mutually reciprocal, of course."
"Of course! We can get that done," Chen nodded. "It looks like it's time for us to meet with the leaders I mentioned. Shall we?"
Texōccoatl and Nōlinyauh nodded warmly, standing up to follow Chen to a meeting room. The following discussions, with Chen and Texōccoatl pushing them along, laid the foundation for agreements to be considered by the governments of both countries for approval. At the conclusion of the discussions, Texōccoatl made sure that Chen had a direct way to get in touch with him. The same information had been provided to President Liu, but Texōccoatl wanted to make sure the trade deal hit no snags, especially with a placeholder in the Xiomeran Secretary of Trade's spot at the moment.
As the two Xiomerans departed the building, giving their farewells to a highly enthuiastic Chen, Texōccoatl and Nōlinyauh reviewed what they had accomplished. "I will say this, Raoul Chen doesn't hesitate to get things done," the Crown Prince said. "I'm impressed."
"Hmm. Not hesitating to pull the trigger. Which two royals does that trait remind me of?" Nōlinyauh replied. Texōccoatl smirked in response.
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