US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week as part of a trip to Asia, with the White House confirming the meeting which had been called into question following an escalation in trade tensions.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that Trump departs for Malaysia late on Friday night and will also visit Japan and South Korea, where he will meet Xi next Thursday after addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit.

"On Thursday morning local time, President Trump will participate in a bilateral meeting with President Xi of the People's Republic of China, before departing to return home," Leavitt said.

He will also meet Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday, Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Ta

See Full Page