A senior US official says it is not true that Chinese President Xi Jinping turned US President Joe Biden down when he proposed a face-to-face summit during a call last week.
The President’s National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan says earlier reports about the phone conversation were not “accurate”.
China’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond when asked to comment.
But President Biden floated the summit as one of several chances for a follow-up with President Xi.
The likely Summit will take place at the upcoming G20 Summit in Italy next month. But President Xi has not left China since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Mr Sullivan says “the Presidents discussed the importance of being able to have private discussions”.
