Rubio says Xi-Trump summit likely after meeting China envoy

A positive conversation between the top envoys will increase the chance of a leaders’ summit that may further ease tensions following their trade truce, although points of friction remain.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is likely after having his first face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Malaysia.

Rubio said he had a “very constructive and positive” sit-down with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday, building on momentum in bilateral ties after Trump earlier this week described their recent relations as “really good.” The gathering was seen as a prelude to a possible leadership summit, which Trump said he’d like to happen this year.

“There’s a strong desire on both sides to do it,” Rubio told reporters in Kuala Lumpur, where the envoys attended a gathering hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “I think the odds are high,” he said, adding that the two countries will find a “mutually acceptable date.”

The meeting was among the highest-level interactions between the two countries since Trump returned to the White House in January. A positive conversation between the top envoys will increase the chance of a leaders’ summit that may further ease tensions following their trade truce, although points of friction remain.

“We’re two big, powerful countries, and there are always going to be issues that we disagree on. I think there’s some areas of potential cooperation,” Rubio said. Asked what the two countries would collaborate on specifically, Rubio said the US will work with the Chinese side and make public announcements later.

“The last interaction of our trade representatives was quite positive. And you know, we can build on that in other areas of potential cooperation,” he said, referring to talks in London last month that confirmed an agreement that suspended sky-high tariffs on Chinese products for 90 days.

The Chinese government has yet to publicly comment on the meeting.

Signs have emerged in recent weeks that both sides are beginning to deliver on their earlier promises, with China agreeing to resume shipments of rare earths and the US offering to ease some export restrictions on ethane, chip-design software and jet-engine components.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said earlier this week the next round of trade talks would kick off in early August, just before the levy reprieve is set to expire.