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China’s top diplomat meets Kushner to clear ground for Trump visit

Yang Jiechi uses Washington stopover to talk to US president’s son-in-law after he cancelled own plans to travel to Beijing

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Jared Kushner reportedly turned down an invitation to visit China. Photo: Washington Post

China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi held talks with Jared Kushner on Wednesday, calling for stronger communications between China and the United States, after the US president’s son-in-law cancelled his trip to Beijing.

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State councillor Yang met Kushner, a senior adviser to Donald Trump, and US National Security Adviser HR McMaster when he stopped over in Washington after paying a visit to Jamaica, Xinhua reported.

Diplomatic observers said the talks indicated that China still regarded Kushner as a communication channel, even though its effectiveness had been reduced.

The two sides exchanged views on Sino-US relations, and promised to work together to prepare for Trump’s visit to China in November, the report said, adding that they had agreed to “promote the sound and stable development of bilateral relations”.

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Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump, who is also a White House adviser, were expected to visit Beijing this month to prepare for the US president’s trip.

But the visit did not happen, with reports suggesting that Kushner had turned down an invitation from China.

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