April 6 (UPI) — President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese leader Xi Jinping to his luxurious South Florida resort on Thursday to start a two-day summit that is expected to produce talks on issues like North Korea and trade.
Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson greeted Xi in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Thursday afternoon. The leaders were scheduled to spend time together Thursday evening and Friday afternoon at the Mar-a-Lago resort, which Trump calls the “Southern White House.”
Tillerson said Thursday that the summit meeting will include “very frank” discussions.
“China can be part of a new strategy to end North Korea’s reckless behavior and ensure security, stability and economic prosperity in Northeast Asia,” he said.
The top U.S. diplomat added that Trump hopes China will use its influence in the region to get Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear and missile systems. Trump said on his trip aboard Air Force One that he believes Xi will step up to help U.S. interests concerning North Korea.
On trade, Trump said he plans to renegotiate business dealings as he has addressed with other countries.
“We have been treated unfairly and have made terrible trade deals with China for many, many years,” he said. “That’s one of the things we are going to be talking about.”
The president and first lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and his wife at the airport before traveling to the resort. Xi will not stay overnight at Trump’s resort, but rather at a nearby hotel.
