US says China agreed importance of leader-level talks to advance denuclearisation

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the importance of leader-level talks on peace and denuclearisation, the US State Department said. The call comes ahead of planned visits by Donald Trump to China and Xi Jinping to Florida, and as Washington explores a possible summit involving Russia.

The US said the leaders had agreed meaningful talks could advance these goals, including at a potential trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. China’s account of the call did not mention denuclearisation or a Russia summit, and Beijing has said it is not ready to join trilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations, citing the difference between its nuclear arsenal and those of the US and Russia. US-China relations have stabilised through recent meetings, but disputes over trade, technology and other issues remain.