Donald Trump hails trade talks’ progress, says meeting Xi Jinping ‘possible’ on trip to meet Kim Jong-un
- Liu He, China’s lead negotiator, delivers letter from Xi, which says China hopes both sides will meet halfway; Trump calls the letter ‘beautiful’
- Trump says it is possible he and Xi could meet more than once before March 1 deadline, when US is expected to increase tariffs on Chinese imports
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he may meet Chinese President Xi Jinping more than once as they look to finalise a deal to end a trade war now entering its seventh month.
In remarks in the Oval Office as two days of talks between Washington and Beijing wrapped up in the US capital, Trump also said it was “possible” that he would combine a trip to meet Xi with a February visit to see North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
While meeting China’s Vice-Premier Liu He and other members of the visiting trade delegation, Trump hailed “tremendous” progress in this week’s discussions, which aimed to narrow the gap between the countries as the March 1 deadline for a deal draws closer.
Liu, the de facto chief of China’s economic policy, told Trump that his country had already started purchasing 5 million tonnes of US soybeans , to which Trump said: “That’s going to make our farmers very happy.”
China says important progress made in frank Washington trade talks
Liu also used the White House meeting to deliver a letter from Xi, which included a pledge to stay in close communication with the US administration and the hope that both sides would meet halfway during negotiations.