CCTV9英语新闻：Chinese president to visit Finland, meet President Trump in US

President Xi Jinping will head to Finland and the United States next week at the invitation of the presidents of both nations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry says it expects both trips to be productive.

From the 4th to the 6th of April, Xi Jinping will be in Finland. But the world’s attention will be on the second leg of this two-nation swing. He flies Florida on April 6th to meet with US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

President Xi’s trip to Finland will be his first visit to an EU member state this year. His meeting with Trump will be the first face-to-face encounter between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao says Xi Jinping will sign a joint statement with Finland on bilateral relations. That statement will be the main outcome from the meeting.

"Back in 2013, President Xi Jinping and President Niinisto already reached an agreement on charting the course for a new type of cooperative partnership. During the visit this time, the two sides will issue a joint statement formally affirming this new version of bilateral ties," Chinese vice foreign minister Wang Chao said.

The more anticipated meeting, however, will be with Trump later in the week. Trade ties between the US and China have never been more complex, and their economies more intertwined. The flow of goods between the two countries is expected to be among the main topics to be discussed at the summit.

Earlier on Friday Trump sent a Tweet complaining about America’s trade imbalance with China and job losses in the US. China’s Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang for his part says growing trade benefits both countries.

At a press conference on Friday, Vice Minister Zheng said the issue should be approached more comprehensively and objectively. China is also calling on the US to relax regulations on the export of high-tech products to improve trade relations between the two nations.

"Although China is running a surplus with the US in trade in goods, we have a deficit in trade in services. China doesn't intend to boost its trade surplus through competitive currency devaluation. If the US can relax its controls on high-tech exports to China and provide policy facilitation for Chinese investments in the US, that would be very helpful," Chinese vice foreignminsiter Zheng Zeguang said.

Many experts believe the upcoming meeting between the two presidents is a unique opportunity for candid discussions without the pomp of a formal state visit. The more relaxed atmosphere will help the two leaders understand each other’s countries, concerns, and outlook.

Between China and US, there are already around 100 platforms for cooperation at various levels. But the forthcoming face to face meeting between Chinese president Xi Jinping, and US president Donald Trump will is still the most important mechanism for dialogue, which is regarded as the one, that will shape the future of China US relations.