WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will travel to Beijing on May 14–15 for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House has announced, signalling a renewed high-level engagement between the world’s two largest economies amid ongoing global tensions.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday said the long-awaited meeting between the two leaders will take place in Beijing, with plans for a reciprocal visit to Washington later this year.
“I’m pleased to announce that President Trump’s long-awaited meeting with President Xi in China will now take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th, ” she said.
Leavitt added that First Lady Melania Trump and President Trump would also host President Xi and Madame Peng for a return visit to Washington at a later date.
The announcement comes after the trip was postponed earlier due to ongoing US military operations in Iran. According to the White House, the rescheduling followed discussions between the two leaders, with Beijing acknowledging the US President’s need to remain in Washington during the conflict.