Trump signals potential US-China summit before year-end

U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping has been eager to arrange an in-person meeting, potentially as soon as later this year.

The meeting could take place either in China or at the White House, Trump said in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News on July 28.

He underlined that he remains open to meeting Xi, with whom he has maintained a cordial personal relationship despite ongoing tensions between the United States and China. However, Trump emphasised that the pressure he is exerting on trade negotiations gives the U.S. a strong advantage.

“[Xi] wants me to go there and he’s going to come [to the United States],” Trump said during a nearly hourlong interview at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland. He added that they were “just going to work out dates” and expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of the upcoming visit.

Reflecting on his previous trip to China, Trump described it as “one of the most incredible trips” of his first term, highlighting iconic moments such as visiting the Great Wall. He also recalled a historic visit to Saudi Arabia as another landmark event. Trump noted that Chinese officials have promised to make the next visit “bigger and better.”

Despite the cordial tone, Trump made clear that he is not rushing to accommodate China’s requests, stating that it is Xi and the Chinese side that feel the pressure from his trade policies. With multiple significant trade deals already secured, Trump portrayed himself as the dominant negotiator in the current U.S.-China relationship.

By Vugar Khalilov