Trump eyes April summit with Xi amid trade tensions
Washington and Beijing are preparing for a face-to-face meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The American leader could fly to China as early as April, reports the "South China Morning Post."
According to "SCMP," citing diplomatic sources, both sides want to organize talks at home to present them as a diplomatic triumph. A visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to China is currently being discussed.
One Chinese source reported that a summit is planned for April, but no date has been set. An American source told "SCMP" that April is the earliest possible month for the meeting. Another source mentioned that talks could also occur in May. "SCMP" interviewees believe the date might be determined after the conclusion of peace negotiations related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Trump had hoped that Xi would visit his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The two leaders had already met there in 2017. However, the Chinese side wants the talks to be more formal.
Trump's difficult relations with China
Another Chinese source emphasized that negotiating with Washington after Trump's return to the White House is more challenging due to radical changes.
In January, Trump and Xi Jinping had a phone conversation. The Republican has repeatedly suggested meeting the Chinese leader after the inauguration. In mid-February, he expressed hope for a prompt meeting with Xi Jinping.
At the beginning of February, Trump, however, imposed tariffs on Chinese products, doubling them in March. In response, Beijing imposed tariffs on American crude oil, coal, and liquefied natural gas. The U.S. President then stated that he is "in no rush" to meet the Chinese leader.
