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China ‘in communication’ with US after Trump flags request to delay trip by ‘month or so’
Neither US president nor China’s foreign ministry can confirm timing of trip after Trump says he wants a delay ‘because of the war’
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China said Tuesday it remained “in communication” with the United States over President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing, after Trump said he had requested a delay of about a month because of the ongoing war with Iran.
“China and the US are in communication on the timing of President Trump’s visit to China,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said when asked to comment on Trump’s remarks about the much-anticipated visit.
When pressed further about what dates were under discussion, Lin said he had “no further information to add at the moment”.
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Lin’s comments came hours after Trump said that his planned trip to Beijing later this month might be postponed, adding uncertainty to a visit expected to include talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Trump said on Monday that the timing of the visit was still under discussion, citing the need to remain in Washington as the US managed its military campaign against Iran. The trip had been scheduled for March 31 to April 2, according to a White House announcement last month.
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“I don’t know, we’re working on that right now. We’re speaking to China. I’d love to, but because of the war, I want to be here. I have to be here, I feel,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
The US had requested Beijing that “we delay it a month or so”, he added.
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