Trump to host Xi Jinping in April at Florida resort

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WASHINGTON, DC: U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at a two-day summit next month at his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort, according to media reports.

The two-day meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 6-7, U.S. online media outlet Axios reported on Monday, citing officials familiar with the plans.

CNN also reported the planned summit, citing an unnamed administration official. It added the plan was tentative and that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was expected to finalize plans during a trip this week to Asia, which includes a stop in China.

A U.S. administration official, who asked not to be named because no official announcement has been made about the meeting, said the summit was possible but was not confirmed.

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The reported summit would follow a string of other recent U.S-China meetings and conversations seeking to smooth ties after aggressive criticism of China by Trump during his election campaign.

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi, who outranks his country’s foreign minister, visited Washington last month to discuss the two countries’ economic ties and security interests, including meetings with Trump and Tillerson.

During his campaign, Trump accused China of unfair trade policies, criticized its island-building in the strategic South China Sea claimed by several countries, and accused it of doing too little to constrain its neighbor, North Korea.

After his election, Trump incensed Beijing in December by taking a phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and later saying the United States did not have to stick to the so-called “one China” policy.

Under that policy, Washington acknowledges the Chinese position that there is only one China, of which Taiwan is a part. Trump later agreed in a phone call with Xi last month to honor the policy.

He has also written to Xi since taking office on Jan. 20, seeking “constructive ties.”

 

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