Tokyo, Japan. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said a recent summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping lowered tensions but produced no major breakthrough. He said this raised the importance of Xi’s planned visit to Washington later this year.
Guterres comments on Trump-Xi meeting
Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday, Guterres said the absence of a major breakthrough meant Xi’s visit to Washington “gains an enormous importance.”
Trade truce and planned Washington visit
Trump and Xi did not agree in Beijing to extend a fragile trade truce set to expire later this year, although Trump praised Xi and invited him to visit Washington in September.
Possible UN General Assembly appearance
Xi’s planned visit coincides with the UN General Assembly, raising the possibility he could address the gathering in person for the first time since 2015. Guterres welcomed the prospect but did not indicate whether such plans were under way.
UN financial warning and unpaid dues
Guterres reiterated his warning that the UN faces “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid dues, largely from the United States, the top contributor. He said outstanding debts across the UN’s peacekeeping and regular budgets total more than $3 billion, and added he would continue pressing Washington to pay and would not ask countries such as China and Japan to make up the shortfall.
What do you think the planned Washington visit could mean for efforts to ease US-China tensions?
