U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the planned meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing has been postponed by approximately one month due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Trump made the announcement during a conversation in the Oval Office, as reported by CNBC. The meeting was originally scheduled for late March.
When asked if the visit would still take place, Trump stated, “I don’t know, we’re working on it right now.” He emphasized the importance of remaining in the U.S. during the conflict, saying, “I would love to go, but because of the war, I want to be here. I feel that I must be here.”
He further elaborated, “Therefore, we asked to postpone the meeting for about a month. I look forward to meeting with him. We have a very good relationship.”
Prior to this announcement, Trump had indicated that he might delay the high-level meeting with Xi if China did not assist in ensuring security in the Strait of Hormuz.
In related developments, on Sunday, March 15, U.S. and Chinese trade representatives began discussions aimed at preparing for the upcoming summit of leaders later this month. Trump’s administration has also been in talks with allies, including the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan, regarding security measures in the Strait of Hormuz. However, many countries have expressed caution about deploying resources to an active conflict zone.
Additionally, EU foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss the enhancement of their naval mission in the Middle East on Monday.
President Trump has postponed his meeting with Xi Jinping, originally set for late March, citing the ongoing conflict in Iran. The decision reflects the U.S. administration's focus on regional security and ongoing negotiations with allies.
Source: CNBC