Trump lands in China today for Xi talks

PTI

Beijing

US President Donald Trump will arrive in China on Wednesday for talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on a host of global issues, the Gulf war and the trade deal pending over tariffs and rare-earth minerals.

There is a great deal of interest and speculation about the likely spectacle China will put up to receive Trump on his second visit in nine years to clinch a trade deal to end the frictions over tariffs that affected its over USD 525 billion exports to the US.

Trump, who would be accompanied by top CEOs, was the last US president to visit China in 2017, during his first term.

President Trump would arrive in Beijing on Wednesday evening and attend a welcome ceremony and a bilateral meeting with Xi on Thursday, US Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said on Sunday.

The two leaders will meet again on Friday for a bilateral tea and working lunch, she said, adding that the US planned to host the Chinese leader for a reciprocal visit later this year.

Both sides announced on Sunday that Vice-Premier He Lifeng will travel to South Korea for trade talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on May 12 and 13 in the final round of negotiations before Trump's visit.

Press for release of Lai, US prez urged

Paris: A leading international media freedom organisation has urged the United States President Donald Trump to press for the release of the founder of Hong Kong 's Apple Daily newspaper and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai during his planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China.