World

Donald Trump notes Xi Jinping's 'extraordinary' rise

October 25, 2017 4:24 pm

US President Donald Trump has congratulated Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on his “extraordinary elevation” after he consolidated his power at the Communist Party congress.

Mr Xi cemented his hold on China for the next five years when he was re-elected leader with no clear successor.

His name and doctrine have been written into the constitution.

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The two leaders are due to hold talks at a state visit to China next month, having met at the G20 summit in July.

The pair also discussed North Korea and trade, President Trump said in a tweet.

In their phone call, Mr Xi expressed a desire to work with Mr Trump to “jointly blueprint future development of China-US ties”, Chinese state media report.

China has the world’s second-largest economy after the US, its biggest trading partner.

Relations have been strained by Beijing’s territorial disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea with Washington’s allies in East Asia