The President of the United States says he has not refused to meet his Chinese counterpart at the upcoming APEC summit, but he is unsure if such a meeting will take place.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, citing TASS, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that he has not refused to meet with Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart, at the upcoming APEC summit in South Korea, but he is uncertain whether the meeting will happen.
In response to reporters’ questions about the cancellation of the meeting, Trump said, “I haven’t canceled it, but I don’t know if we’re going to have (such a meeting).”
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He added, “But regardless of that, I intend to be there (in South Korea), so I think the meeting might take place.”
Trump, referring to China’s recent action on imposing restrictions on the export of rare minerals, continued, “It was completely surprising. They suddenly introduced this idea of imports and exports, and no one, really no one, knew anything about it.”
The Chinese government had previously extended export restrictions on several types of equipment and raw materials used in the production of rare minerals.
Trump questioned the necessity of an in-person meeting with Xi Jinping, claiming that Beijing’s actions had made such a meeting “pointless.”
The U.S. President confirmed on October 7 that he expects to meet his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea, which will take place in late October and early November.