U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that there is a high possibility of a summit meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
According to foreign news reports, including Bloomberg News, on the 11th (local time), Secretary Rubio spoke to reporters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministers' meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) foreign ministers' meeting were held. His remarks came after the first face-to-face meeting with Wang Yi, head of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Secretary Rubio said that President Trump and President Xi are maintaining a "very positive working relationship" and that "both sides have a strong desire for a summit meeting."
However, he noted that there has been no discussion regarding the schedule of the two leaders' meeting, adding that both countries would find a mutually agreeable date.
Secretary Rubio said he had a "very constructive meeting" with Wang, but also mentioned that there are still issues that both countries need to resolve.
The face-to-face meeting between Secretary Rubio and Wang is expected to serve as preliminary groundwork for a U.S.-China summit. Earlier, in early last month, President Xi had invited President Trump to China during a phone call.
In this regard, it is reported that the U.S. government is in contact with U.S. corporate executives who will accompany President Trump during his visit to China this year.
Bloomberg News reported that President Trump is considering meeting with President Xi in early next month in Beijing or in Gyeongju, South Korea, between late October and early November. During this period, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit will be held in Gyeongju.