President Xi to visit Latin America, meet Obama

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico from May 31 to June 6, and meet with US President Barack Obama in the United States on June 7-8, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang announced here Tuesday.

According to Qin, Xi's visits are at the invitation of President of Trinidad and Tobago Anthony Carmona, President of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Obama.

Qin said Xi's visits to Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico have important significance for the all-round and in-depth development of China's ties with the three nations, expressing his belief that the visits will inject new vitality to China's relations with the Latin American and Caribbean regions.

The China-US summit, first since President Xi took office in March, will be held in California, at Sunnylands, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Estate, Qin said.

Qin highlighted the significance of the meeting, saying it will bolster the long-term, sound and steady development of the China-US relations, and promote the peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

The two leaders will exchange their views on bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern, Qin added.

Thomas Donilon, US President Barack Obama's national security advisor, will visit China from May 26 to 28 to prepare for the summit, Qin said.