State Department officials originally said that Tillerson had a conflict but that he would see NATO foreign ministers at a 27-nation meeting on ISIS he is hosting at the State Department Wednesday. The alternative dates put forward by the State Department Tuesday were seen as a response to criticism about Tillerson's decision not to attend. The April 5-6 NATO ministerial meeting that Tillerson is skipping is held, in part, to prepare for the leaders' summit. Toner noted other opportunities the top US diplomat will have to see NATO foreign ministers, most immediately the anti-ISIS coalition meeting Tillerson will host Wednesday. The State Department would not say whether the Xi visit is the reason Tillerson isn't scheduled to attend the NATO meeting.

Source: CNN March 22, 2017 00:07 UTC