Xi Jinping asks China to prepare for difficult times as trade war simmers

He was speaking at southern province of Jiangxi, one of the cradles of China's Communist revolution. He told them they must be prepared to face difficult situations ahead.

China must prepare for difficult times as the international situation is increasingly complex, President Xi Jinping said in comments carried by state media on Wednesday, as the country faces increased tariffs in a bitter trade war with Washington.

The two countries are locked in tit-for-tat tariff increases on each other's imports, after talks broke down to resolve their dispute.

Acrimony has intensified since Washington last week blacklisted Chinese telecom equipment company Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, a potentially devastating blow for the company that has rattled technology supply chains and investors.

During a three-day trip this week to the southern province