China says in touch with US on Trump visit, timeline unclear

Beijing: China said Wednesday that it was in contact with the United States about a postponed visit by Donald Trump, but was tight-lipped about a timetable after the US leader said he would make the trip in five or six weeks.

The visit, which was originally set to start March 31, has been highly anticipated given the powers' strategic and commercial rivalry that has been exacerbated by Trump's aggressive tariff campaign.

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"Both China and the United States will continue to maintain communication regarding President Trump's visit to China," Lin Jian, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, told a news conference.

The visit, which was months on the making, has been disrupted by the war in the Middle East.

Trump said on Tuesday that the high-stakes trip would take place in "five or six weeks".

He suggested on Sunday that the date of his trip could depend on whether China assists in unblocking the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed off by Iran in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

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Trump confirmed a day later the likelihood of a delay, but instead cited the need to remain in the United States due to the war.

China has never publicly confirmed any date for the visit, in line with its usual practice.