and former united states institute and former treasurer. very difficult, the words of donald trump in advance of this. how difficult you think it will be? it was smart of president trump to set low expectations. the united states and china have been discussing this for a long time and it's unlikely there will be a quick breakthrough. it's smart to set low expectations and hope that the two can respect each other and communicate well about their interests and set a foundation for progress in the future but i wouldn't expect a lot of concrete results this weekend. let's look at the wish list on either side. what would the americans most like to see coming out of this? on trade, the us would like to see a big reduction in the trade imbalance. the us has a big deficit with china. we'd like to see china open up more markets. they

have a lot of restrictions on things like automobile imports, beef, service sector. a long list of things we'd like to see china open up. china is investing a lot in the us and wants the us to stay open to that. they would like the us to sell high—tech products. we stop doing that after the tnm square massacre. tiananmen. can you see any areas where there might be compromised? the us could compromise on a couple of things i didn't mention. china would also like to see the us join the asian infrastructure investment bank and recognise that one bell, one road programme. those are to call things the us could give. china would like market economy status in the us and that takes congressional

action and seems like a nonstarter in this political environment. what are some of the international issues? i mentioned north korea. there will be thoughts about events in the syria and where china stand on that at the united nations in comparison to wear the united states, france and britain stand. north korea first. what you expect to see emerging? north korea is the most important security issue. mr kim has been ferried active with ballistic missile tests and the us is legitimately alarmed. the us needs the chinese to put the economic squeeze on mr kim. the chinese think that the us should negotiate directly. shared objectives but differences on tactics. each side should explain itself clearly. maybe a commitment to find common ground. china might

very well sign up to additional sanctions, putting some squeeze on mr kim but they don't want to see that north korea regime collapse in chaos. the sides have real differences. what are the dynamics of the meeting like this? every photo shoot scrutinised. what are you looking for that will tell you whether these men can put some sort of working relationship together? the most important thing is mutual respect and clear communication. it's unlikely they would come out their first meeting like this as friends. it be hard for them to be friends. it be hard for them to be friends in any real sense. i wouldn't have grandiose expectations. everything would be done through translation which could be quite awkward and hard to develop in that situation. they could respect each other if they make it obvious what their priorities are. i

can see each side coming away thinking it is a serious person that they can work with and they have differences that they can resolve. i would be happy if the mat atmospherics would be good not in the censure that they —— i would be happy if the atmospherics were good, not in the sense that they love each other but with mutual respect. the best you can hope for is that they set a foundation for moving ahead. there will be follow—up meetings and activities. if the leaders have a good start then their respective benat level and subcabinet level officials get to work on the details. —— cabinet level and subcabinet level. thank you very much indeed. just looking at some lines coming in from syria. with respect to the us secretary of state. coming out of the white house, about what rex tillerson has

been doing. apparently him and sergei lavrov have been saying on this. a p pa re ntly lavrov have been saying on this. apparently donald trump has spoken to several leaders about setting up ace to several leaders about setting up a ce saves to several leaders about setting up ace saves zone “— to several leaders about setting up ace saves zone —— about setting up safe zones in syria. this is being reported, the pentagon presenting possible military options that the united states could take in response to the chemical attack in syria. this is quoting a us official, speaking on condition of anonymity. this could include strikes to ground the syrian air force. the this could include strikes to ground the syrian airforce. the pentagon chief generaljim matters is presenting the options to president

trump. i think that general mattis will go to mar—a—lago and pass on further thoughts on that. detailed discussions now confirmed by reuters on military options to respond to the poison gas attack. it is now confirmed thatjim mattis will meet president trump at mar—a—lago in florida. talks about potential responses underway, including between mr mattis and white house security officials. that's according to white house official. significant development in washington with regard to events in syria and a possible vote at the united nations in the coming hours about investigating what really happened in idlib province. we will talk more about it in the next hour. just going to bring new bit of golfing

news. the world golf number one dustinjohnson news. the world golf number one dustin johnson has news. the world golf number one dustinjohnson has pulled out of the us and masters golf tournament after sustaining a back injury in a freak fall. he was favourite to win the title after victories in his last three tournaments slipped on stairs in his rental home. he hit balls on the driving range and arrived on the first tee before walking back to the dropouts and deciding it wouldn't work to him. back to the us and specifically rex tillerson, us secretary of state who has started speaking. it is very important that the russian government consider carefully their continued support for the assad region. does assad have to go? his role in the future

is uncertain and, clearly. with the attacks that have taken place there would be no role for him to govern the syrian people. would you rev move him from power? the process by which she would leave would require an international effort to stabilise the syrian country to avoid further civil war and to work collectively with our partners through the world through a political process that would leeds to him leaving. will you and president trump organise and international coalition to remove assad? those steps are underway. has that taken place? we are considering an appropriate response to this

chemical weapons attack that violates international norms and long held agreements between parties including the syrian regime, the russian government and all other members of the un security council. it's a serious matter that requires a serious response. is that a military 's a serious response. is that a military '5 response? a serious response. is that a military 's response? the us secretary of state rex tillerson in a fairly brief press conference being held in florida. you will have seen being held in florida. you will have seen him at the steps of president shejumping's seen him at the steps of president she jumping's plane as seen him at the steps of president shejumping's plane as he seen him at the steps of president she jumping's plane as he arrived. —— xijinping's she jumping's plane as he arrived. —— xi jinping's plane. she jumping's plane as he arrived. —— xijinping's plane. they're answering questions about syria and saying there would be no role for president assad to govern the syrian people. further confirmation of those points with the pentagon presenting a range of possible

military options that the united states could take in response to the suspected chemical attack in syria. that was an official quoted rather than the secretary of state. just looking at various other lines. considering a appropriate response, that was rex tillerson a moment ago. hasn't spoken with president putin, president trump, i should stress, not rex tillerson. he says, "at some point, i may". another quote from that press conference. donald trump being quoted by reuters saying" what happened in syria is a disgrace and i guess he's running things so some

things should happen". president trump being quoted there by the white house official but also you saw those remarks from rex tillerson with regard to russia. clearly in american eyes president assad's future in a great deal of doubt. i mentioned the line that various conversations had been had between president trump and other leaders about some sort of safe zone that they would look to set up. we will keep you abreast of all those developments. before that, attack on the weather prospects with aaron beck. —— darren burnett. it wasn't sunny everywhere. that's usually the story. north wales, much

cloudier skies. me —— we may well hang on to some of that cloud. some patches of cloud pushing further south. in the countryside where we have clear skies it will be called across much of wales across southern england, eastern england, down to two or three degrees. it will warm quickly in the sunshine. a little more cloud developing through the midlands and eastern england and perhaps more cloud for north—western england and northern ireland. in the sunshine, things getting into the mid—teens. pollen levels are high. tree pollen at this time of year. particularly high across england and wales away from the far north. towards the weekend, more sunshine developing more widely. pushing into

scotla nd developing more widely. pushing into scotland and perhaps northern ireland, lifting the temperatures, i9 ireland, lifting the temperatures, 19 not out of the question. a lovely warm day for the grand national at aintree. no rain in the run—up to big race itself. high pressure is in charge of our weather. pushing its way towards the near continent. this weather front will encroach on the north—west of the uk but otherwise drawing up more of the southerly breeze which will tend to draw in sunny, clear air breeze which will tend to draw in sunny, clearairand warm breeze which will tend to draw in sunny, clear air and warm airfor england and wales. more cloud for northern ireland, western scotland, into eastern scotland and eventually over the irish sea. it's not going to be warm everywhere. higher temperatures always across more central and eastern parts of england. 23 degrees is quite likely but only briefly. things change rapidly overnight into sunday. that weather front moves southwards pushing away the warmer air. the

wind direction changing to more of a northerly with some showers and low temperatures. this is bbc news. the headlines at 8pm: washington says it is considering action to overthrow president assad after the chemical attack in syria. we are considering an appropriate response for this chemical weapons attack which violates all previous un resolutions. china's president xi jinping arrives in florida for his first summit with president trump. the us president says he expects a ‘very difficult' encounter with the chinese premier with north korea and the economy high on the agenda. also the next hour, britain's highest court rules against a father who took his daughter on holiday during the school term. the case has implications for any parent, intending to take a child out of school in england, without permission.

a senior police officer says possession of drugs should not be