Trump reiterates that he spoke with China's Xi, offers no details

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he had spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping numerous times but did not say when the two leaders last talked or what topics they discussed.

Asked whether he has spoken with Xi since enacting his tariff plan, Trump told reporters: "I don't want to comment on that, but I've spoken to him numerous times."

Trump's comments came shortly after TIME magazine published an interview that quoted the Republican president as saying that Xi had called him.

When asked to elaborate on that statement, Trump said he would give more details "at the appropriate time."

In the TIME interview, conducted on Tuesday, Trump said his administration is talking with China to strike a tariff deal. Beijing on Friday again denied that any U.S.-China trade talks were taking place.

As he left the White House to attend Pope Francis' funeral in Rome, Trump also told reporters that his administration is very close to a tariffs deal with Japan.

"Trade deals are going very well," he said.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery; writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

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