WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week as part of a trip to Asia, the White House said on Oct 23, confirming the meeting which had been called into question following an escalation in trade tensions.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Mr Trump departs for Malaysia late on Oct 24 and will also visit Japan and South Korea, where he will meet Mr Xi on Oct 30 after addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit.

“On Thursday morning local time, President Trump will participate in a bilateral meeting with President Xi of the People’s Republic of China, before departing to return home,” Ms Leavitt said.

He will also meet Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Oct 26, Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Oct 28 and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Busan on Oct 29.

A US-China trade war, which had been simmering for months,

after Beijing dramatically expanded curbs on exports of rare earths minerals.

Mr Trump had quickly threatened to retaliate with tariffs and other measures, but has in recent days expressed optimism about reaching a trade deal with China.

“I think we’re going to come out very well, and everyone’s going to be very happy,” Mr Trump said of the meeting later on Oct 23.

Those comments have been in contrast to more strident remarks from his top trade negotiator and finance chief, who were headed to Asia on Oct 22 to keep Mr Trump’s meeting with Mr Xi, the first of his second term, on track.

Mr Trump said the first question he would ask the Chinese leader would be about fentanyl.

Washington accuses Beijing of failing to curb the flow of precursor chemicals for fentanyl, a leading cause of US overdose deaths. Beijing has defended its drug control record and accused Washington of using fentanyl to “blackmail” China.

The White House used the flow of the chemicals from China as one justification for increasing tariffs on Chinese goods.

“The first question I’m going to be asking him about is fentanyl,” Mr Trump said. “I’m putting it right at the front of the list.” REUTERS