Chinese president asks former Starbucks boss to help repair US relations

Former Starbucks chief executive Howard Schultz (Ted S. Warren/AP)

China’s President Xi Jinping is asking former chief executive Howard Schultz of Starbucks to help repair US-Chinese relations that have plunged to their lowest level in decades amid a tariff war and tension over technology and security.

A letter from Mr Xi to Mr Schultz reported by the official Xinhua News Agency was a rare direct communication from China’s paramount leader to a foreign business figure.