RPT-CORRECTED-China, U.S. maintain close contact on trade issues -foreign ministry

Reuters

(Corrects lead and headline to say that the two sides are maintaining close contact on trade issues, not a meeting of the two leaders; the original story also included alerts)

BEIJING, Nov 1 (Reuters) - China's Foreign Ministry said on Friday China and the United States have maintained close contact on bilateral trade issues.

Trump said on Thursday that the two countries would soon announce a new location at which he and Xi would sign a "Phase One" trade deal.

But speaking at a daily news briefing in Beijing, ministry spokesman Geng Shuang dismissed as speculation talk the two leaders will meet in Macau. (Reporting by Gabriel Crossley; Editing by Catherine Evans)