US President Trump to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping on May 14-15

US President Donald Trump’s Trip to China Rescheduled for May 14-15

A meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has been rescheduled for mid-May. The trip was initially planned for March 31 to April 2 but will now take place on May 14 and 15.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the new dates during a news briefing on Wednesday. She stated that Trump and First Lady Melania Trump expect to host Xi in Washington, DC, later this year.

Leavitt denied any preconditions for the rescheduled meeting, saying President Xi understood the importance of Trump being present throughout the current combat operations. The war in Iran has continued despite repeated assurances from the White House that victory is close at hand.

Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had a significant impact on the global economy, including in China. Beijing has called for an end to the war and has declined to participate in reopening the strait. Trump has requested China’s help in this matter, but so far, no agreement has been reached.

The US administration has stated that joint operations with Israel against Iran are progressing according to plan. However, reporters pressed Leavitt about a timeline for ending combat operations. She replied that estimates suggest four to six weeks, but did not provide further details.

The rescheduled meeting between Trump and Xi is likely to focus on trade tensions between the two countries. The US has imposed tariffs on China since Trump’s first term as president, but these have been deemed invalid by a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Source: Al Jazeera