Trump–Xi Jinping summit delayed, Politico reveals reason
US and Chinese leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping (Photo: Getty Images)
The administration of US President Donald Trump has informed foreign officials that it will not set a new date for a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping until the active phase of the war with Iran has ended, reports Politico.
An unnamed diplomat in Washington familiar with preparations for the Trump–Xi summit said that US authorities have made it clear that new dates for talks between the leaders will only be proposed after the active phase of the conflict in the Middle East is over.
This information was also confirmed by another anonymous source close to the administration and involved in planning the meeting.
At the same time, the White House denies that the timing of the summit is tied to the war with Iran.
“This is fake news. The United States and China are having productive discussions about rescheduling President Trump’s visit – announcements are forthcoming,” said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly.
As previously reported, the meeting between the leaders of the US and China, originally planned for late March, had already been postponed for several weeks due to the war in Iran, which has become a key priority for Washington.
Against this backdrop, the war in the Middle East continues to escalate and is already affecting global politics and the economy, including relations between the US and China.
During their previous meeting in October in South Korea, Trump and Xi Jinping made progress in preventing an escalation of the trade war. China pledged to increase purchases of US agricultural products and ease restrictions on exports of critical minerals, while the US agreed to extend a pause on imposing high tariffs on Chinese goods.
Experts believe that the absence of a face-to-face meeting between the leaders will not necessarily derail efforts to stabilize relations. At the same time, they warn of risks of new points of tension that could affect the fragile truce between the countries.
Trump and Xi recently held a phone conversation. Politico suggests that the call served as preparation for a new visit. The leaders discussed a range of issues, from trade disputes to external conflicts.
According to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, dialogue between the US and China is vital to preventing global miscalculations.
