L-R: Trump and Xi Jinping | File photo: KSL.com
US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping as part of his diplomatic trip to Asia, the White House has announced.
Both leaders, who oversee the world’s largest economies, are billed to discuss how to defuse a simmering trade war that has dragged on for months.
The discussions will hold on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, confirmed the meeting on Thursday.
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“I think we are going to come out very well and everyone’s going to be very happy,” Trump said.
“We have a pretty long meeting scheduled. We can work out a lot of our doubts and questions and our tremendous assets together.
“I think something will work out. We have a very good relationship, but that will be a big one.”
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Even though both leaders have spoken at least thrice this year, this is their first face-to-face meeting since Trump’s return to the Oval Office.
Their last physical meeting was in 2019, during the first Trump presidency.
Wang Wentao, China’s commerce minister, expressed optimism over the forthcoming talks.
“It is entirely possible to find solutions to each other’s concerns” and “promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of China-US economic and trade relations,” he said on Friday.
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A fresh trade war was ignited between both countries earlier this month after Trump announced a fresh round of 100 percent tariffs on Chinese goods.
Trump said the move was in response to China’s decision to place export controls on its critical rare earths.
The tariffs are set to take effect from November 1.
During his Asian tour, the US president will also meet leaders from Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.
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