President Donald Trump has said he agreed to visit Beijing in April and invited Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit later next year, following a phone call between the two leaders.
Trump and Xi - who met nearly a month ago in South Korea - discussed a range of issues including trade, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fentanyl, and Taiwan, according to information released by the president and China's foreign ministry.
Our relationship with China is extremely strong! Trump stated in a post on Truth Social. China's state news agency remarked that both countries should keep up the momentum, keep moving forward in the right direction on the basis of equality, respect, and mutual benefit.
The previous meeting in Busan, South Korea, led to an agreement to reduce tariffs, with the US cutting a 20% tariff in half to help decrease fentanyl flow. Currently, tariffs on Chinese goods remain at just below 50%.
The Chinese statement highlighted that since the prior meetings, the China-US relationship has maintained a steady and positive trajectory, which is welcomed by both nations and the broader international community.
The Chinese and US leaders discussed trade issues during their hour-long call. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt conveyed satisfaction with recent developments from China, which she described as mutually beneficial.
Moreover, Xi reiterated that Taiwan's return to China is essential for achieving China's vision of a new international order, a point of contention given the region's strategic positioning and Japan's stance on potential Chinese aggression.
Trump's call did not mention Taiwan, yet it remains a critical topic in Sino-US relations. As the geopolitical landscape evolves, the implications of Trump's visit and the outcomes of these discussions will be closely monitored by global observers.
