Rubio Calls Meeting with Chinese Minister Wang Yi Positive

I think it was a very constructive and positive meeting, says Rubio to reporters after the meeting and adds that there is a "strong desire" for a meeting between Trump and China's leader Xi Jinping.

Rubio and Wang met in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia in connection with an ongoing meeting with several foreign ministers from mainly Southeast Asia.

The previously tense situation between Washington and Beijing escalated during the spring as a result of President Donald Trump's tariff policy, which led to a trade war between the countries. That part has since calmed down after the parties agreed on a framework for trade.

Both the US and China want to strengthen their influence in Southeast Asia and from the American side, they said before the meeting that the region is a priority for the US.