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 o n Oct 30 after addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit.