US President Donald Trump has urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to meet the anti-Beijing protesters in Hong Kong, who have been demanding democratic reforms in the Asian financial hub, to resolve the problem “humanely.”
Hong Kong, a former British colony, has witnessed unprecedented turmoil for weeks, with pro-democracy protesters causing chaos at the international airport earlier this week. Trump had previously appeared to suggest that he himself should meet Xi to discuss the crisis in Hong Kong which was sparked by opposition to a bill that would have allowed extraditions from Hong Kong to mainland China.
Asserting that the US is “having a very good discussion” on a trade deal with China, Trump told reporters at the Morristown Airport in New Jersey that he will speak with Chinese President Xi “very soon”. Trump said he will sook speak to President Xi. “We have a call scheduled soon — President Xi. We’ll be speaking to him very soon,” he said. In a tweet, Trump said he had “ZERO doubt” that Xi could “humanely solve the Hong Kong problem”.
