US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that he anticipates holding a high-level summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping around September 24, a timeline that mirrors the schedule of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The U.S. leader highlighted the tentative date while addressing attendees at a White House Rose Garden event, where he defended his ongoing and controversial real estate projects on the executive complex grounds, including a massive new ballroom. Trump invoked the Chinese president’s upcoming visit to justify the grand scale of the construction.
"For instance, President Xi is coming here toward the end of September, on the 24th, I believe," Trump remarked during his speech. "What we need is a big ballroom; we could hold thousands of people to see him. Everyone wants to see him."
A diplomatic meeting on September 24 would coincide closely with the gathering of global dignitaries for the annual UN General Assembly. Trump is scheduled to address the assembly on September 22 and typically maintains a multi-day itinerary in New York to conduct bilateral meetings with world leaders. While Trump previously hinted at a September reception during his state visit to Beijing, this marks the first instance where a precise date has been specified publicly.
The scheduled autumn meeting follows a three-day bilateral summit held between the two presidents in Beijing, where both administrations sought to stabilize economic ties and manage geopolitical tensions.
