Donald Trump Announces He Is Set to Go to China in April Following Phone Conversation with President Xi
President Donald Trump has declared that he will go to Beijing in April and asked Chinese President Xi Jinping for a diplomatic trip next year, following a phone call between the two heads of state.
Trump and Xi—who held talks recently in Korea—talked about a series of matters including commerce, the Ukraine conflict, fentanyl, and Taiwan, as stated by the president and Chinese officials.
"The U.S.-China ties is very robust!" Trump stated in a online message.
China's state news agency released a comment that noted both nations should "keep up the momentum, progress in the positive way on the foundation of equality, respect and mutual benefit".
Previous Meeting and Trade Developments
The heads of state met in Busan, South Korea in last October, after which they agreed to a truce on tariffs. The United States chose to cut a 20 percent duty in half intended to decrease the movement of opioids.
Trade taxes remain on imports and stand at nearly 50 percent.
"Afterwards, the Sino-American ties has mostly kept a stable and upward path, and this is greeted positively by the both nations and the broader international community," the official comment added.
- America then withdrew a potential imposition of double tariffs on products, while Beijing delayed its scheme to enforce its new set of rare earth export controls.
Focus on Trade
Official representative Karoline Leavitt commented that the Monday call with Xi—which took around 60 minutes—was centered on trade.
"The U.S. is happy with what we've observed from the China, and they feel the same way," she noted.
Wider Discussions
Besides discussing trade, Xi and Trump discussed the subjects of the Ukraine war and Taiwan.
Xi stated to Trump that Taiwan's "return to China" is essential for Beijing's perspective for the "post-war international order".
Beijing has been engaged in a diplomatic battle with Japan, a US ally, over the long-term "uncertain policy" on the control of self-governed Taiwan.
Recently, Tokyo's head Sanae Takaichi commented that any military action by China on Taiwan could force a Japanese military response.
Trump, but, did not discuss Taiwan in his Truth Social post about the call.
The U.S. representative in Japan, George Glass, previously said that the US supports the Japanese in the context of China's "coercion".
