Trump Says He Is Set to Go to China in April Following Phone Conversation with Xi Jinping
President Donald Trump has stated that he plans to travel to the Chinese capital in spring and asked Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit in the coming year, subsequent to a telephone conversation between the two officials.
Trump and Xi—who held talks nearly a month ago in the Republic of Korea—covered a variety of topics including commerce, the Ukraine conflict, synthetic drugs, and the Taiwan issue, as stated by the former president and Chinese officials.
"Bilateral relations is highly solid!" Trump posted in a social media update.
Beijing's press outlet released a announcement that noted both states should "keep up the momentum, proceed in the correct path on the principle of parity, mutual respect and common gain".
Earlier Talks and Trade Developments
The leaders convened in Busan, South Korea in the fall, subsequently they agreed to a truce on tariffs. The U.S. government chose to reduce a import tax by 50% aimed at the movement of fentanyl.
Tariffs remain on products from China and average just below 50%.
"Afterwards, the bilateral relations has mostly kept a steady and positive trajectory, and this is greeted positively by the two countries and the wider global audience," the Chinese statement said.
- America then retracted a warning of 100% additional tariffs on Chinese goods, while the Chinese government postponed its plan to introduce its recent phase of restrictions on rare earths.
Economic Emphasis
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the recent conversation with Xi—which went on for an hour—was focused on commerce.
"We are pleased with what we've witnessed from the Chinese, and they agree," she noted.
Additional Issues
Besides addressing trade, Xi and Trump discussed the topics of the Ukraine war and the Taiwan situation.
Xi stated to Trump that the island's "return to China" is essential for China's vision for the "post-war international order".
Beijing has been engaged in a diplomatic battle with the Japanese government, a US ally, over the long-term "uncertain policy" on the sovereignty of Taiwan.
Recently, Japan's leader Sanae Takaichi said that an eventual military action by China on Taiwan could compel a response from Japan's forces.
Trump, however, did not refer to the Taiwan issue in his Truth Social post about the conversation.
The U.S. representative in Japan, George Glass, had earlier stated that the United States backs the Japanese in the aftermath of China's "intimidation".