US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday asserted that there is a “high probability” that US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet this year, CNN said in a report.
‘The odds are high’
While talking to journalists in Kuala Lumpur, Rubio said, “The odds are high. I think both sides want to see it happen.”
The US secretary of state said he could not provide a specific date for the meeting but emphasised there was a “strong desire on both sides to do it,” CNN reported.
Rubio met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
He met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, marking the first in-person meeting between the top diplomats of the two countries as they work to navigate ongoing trade tensions and geopolitical competition in Asia.
According to CNN, the hour-long meeting was described by Rubio as “very constructive” and “positive.”
“We’re two big, powerful countries, and there are always going to be issues that we disagree on,” Rubio said. “I thought it was (a) very constructive, positive meeting, and (there’s) a lot of work to do,” he told reporters, as quoted by CNN.
Rubio’s visit marks his first trip to Asia
Both leaders were in the Malaysian capital for regional meetings involving foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and partners including Russia, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Rubio’s visit marks his first trip to Asia as Secretary of State, CNN noted.
The US and China have experienced fluctuating trade relations since Trump returned to office earlier this year, escalating into a tit-for-tat tariff dispute. The two nations reached a trade framework during negotiations in London last month, easing tensions for a 90-day pause set to expire in August.
US Treasury Secretary plans to meet Chinese officials
CNN reported that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent plans to meet Chinese officials in the coming weeks to continue talks.
Rubio said the meeting with Wang allowed both sides to identify areas of potential cooperation. “That was our message – that (we have) the opportunity here to achieve some strategic stability and identify areas where we can cooperate together on and build better communications and a working trust,” he stated, according to CNN.
