On Thursday, President Trump will welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The summit will offer the leaders a chance to forge a personal relationship, after Trump has repeatedly attacked China for its trade practices, among other issues. The White House said the discussions, which are expected to touch on North Korea, trade, and climate change, will "set a framework" for future relations between the nations.
However, Politico noted that Xi's team could have the upper hand in negotiations, as Trump has yet to fill many key positions. "Those are very key players, and without people in those positions, it is hard to imagine that the administration in this short period of time has been able to come with a comprehensive China policy," said Dennis Wilder, who recently served as the CIA's deputy assistant director for East Asia and the Pacific.
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