Trump to meet China’s Xi as part of swing through Asia
US President Donald Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week as part of his trip to Asia, and the White House confirmed the meeting, which has been questioned following escalating trade tensions.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that Trump left for Malaysia late Friday night and will also visit Japan and South Korea, where he will meet Xi after speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit next Thursday.
“On Thursday morning local time, President Trump will attend a bilateral meeting with President Xi of the People’s Republic of China before departing to return home,” Leavitt said. he said.
He will also meet Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday, Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Tuesday, and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Busan on Wednesday.
The US-China trade war, which has been simmering for months, came into full play in early October after Beijing dramatically expanded restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals.
Trump had quickly threatened to retaliate with tariffs and other measures, but in recent days he has expressed optimism about reaching a trade deal with China.
“I think we’re going to have a very good outcome, and everybody’s going to be very happy,” Trump said later in Thursday’s meeting.
The comments contrast with harsher statements from Trump’s chief trade negotiator and finance chief, who traveled to Asia on Wednesday to keep his meeting with Xi, the first of his second term, on track.
Trump said the first question he would ask the Chinese leader would be about fentanyl.
Washington accuses Beijing of failing to stem the flow of precursor chemicals for fentanyl, the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States. Beijing defended its drug control record and accused Washington of using fentanyl to “blackmail” China.
The White House has used the flow of chemicals from China as a justification for increasing tariffs on Chinese goods.
“The first question I’m going to ask him is fentanyl,” Trump said.
“I’m putting it at the top of the list.”
