Donald Trump planning to host China's Xi Jinping in April at Florida resort: Report

US President Donald Trump (left) is planning to host his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for a two-day summit at his Mar-a-Lago resort next month. PHOTOS: REUTERS

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - US President Donald Trump is planning to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at a two-day summit next month at his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort, US online media outlet Axios reported on Monday (March 13), citing officials familiar with the plans.

The two-day meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 6-7, the US media outlet reported.

Reuters has not verified the Axios story and does not vouch for its accuracy.

Representatives of the White House and for Xi could not be immediately reached for comment.

The planned summit would follow a string of other recent US-China meetings and conversations seeking to reaffirm ties following months of strong rhetoric from Trump.

Last month, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi visited Washington to discuss the two countries' economic ties and security interests.

Yang, who outranks China's foreign minister, met separately with Trump, as well as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The Trump-Xi meeting will follow Tillerson's trip to China, Japan and South Korea this week.

During his presidential campaign, Trump accused China of unfair trade policies, criticised its island-building in the strategic South China Sea claimed by several countries, and accused it of doing too little to constrain its neighbour, North Korea.

Since taking office on Jan 20, Trump has written a letter to Xi, seeking "constructive ties" and later speaking with him by phone.

In December, Trump incensed Beijing by taking a phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and later saying the United States did not have to stick to Beijing's so-called "one China"policy.

Under that policy, Washington acknowledges the Chinese position that there is only one China, of which Taiwan is a part. Trump later agreed in a phone call with Xi to honour the policy.

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