WASHINGTON, July 20 — Preparations for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to the United States (US) are proceeding as scheduled despite recent tensions between Washington and Beijing, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
“We are anticipating that the trip is happening in September,” Rubio told reporters at Joint Base Andrews before departing for a meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers.
He said Chinese officials were continuing to send teams to prepare for the visit.
“I’ve heard nothing otherwise. I have no reason to believe that they won’t be coming,” Rubio said.
China’s Foreign Ministry said both sides were in contact regarding the planned meeting later this year.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday accused China of interfering in the 2020 US presidential election, which he lost to Joe Biden. Beijing rejected the allegation.
Trump visited Beijing in May and invited Xi to the White House for a return visit on September 24.
Rubio said disagreements were inevitable between major powers such as the US and China, but stressed that both countries had a responsibility to maintain dialogue and relations for the sake of their people and the wider world.
An opportunity for discussions could arise as early as Tuesday at the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in the Philippine capital, Manila.
Beijing confirmed that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be attending the meeting.
