Trump Says He Is Set to Go to China in the Month of April Following Discussion with Xi Jinping
Leader Donald Trump has confirmed that he will visit China's capital in spring and invited Chinese President Xi Jinping for a official visit in the coming year, subsequent to a telephone conversation between the two heads of state.
Trump and Xi—who convened recently in the Republic of Korea—covered a series of matters including economic relations, the Ukraine conflict, fentanyl, and Taiwan, per the former president and Beijing's diplomatic corps.
"Our relationship with China is very robust!" Trump wrote in a online message.
Official Chinese media published a comment that said both nations should "maintain progress, proceed in the correct path on the foundation of fairness, respect and common gain".
Earlier Talks and Economic Agreements
The heads of state held discussions in Busan in last October, after which they settled on a pause on trade taxes. The U.S. government opted to reduce a 20% tariff in half aimed at the supply of opioids.
Duties remain on imports and average just below 50%.
"From that point, the bilateral relations has mostly kept a consistent and favorable course, and this is welcomed by the each side and the broader international community," the Beijing's announcement noted.
- The United States then pulled back a potential imposition of double tariffs on products, while the Chinese government postponed its scheme to implement its recent phase of limits on mineral exports.
Focus on Trade
Official representative Karoline Leavitt stated that the phone discussion with Xi—which lasted about an hour—was mainly about commerce.
"The U.S. is happy with what we've seen from the Chinese, and they share that sentiment," she remarked.
Additional Issues
Along with addressing commerce, Xi and Trump raised the topics of the conflict in Ukraine and Taiwan.
Xi stated to Trump that Taiwan's "return to China" is vital for the Chinese outlook for the "world order following wars".
China has been part of a diplomatic battle with Japan, a U.S. friend, over the longstanding "uncertain policy" on the control of self-governed Taiwan.
In the past few weeks, Tokyo's head Sanae Takaichi stated that an eventual military action by China on the island could compel a Japanese military response.
Trump, but, did not refer to the island in his Truth Social post about the discussion.
The U.S. representative in Japan, George Glass, noted before that the U.S. government backs the Japanese in the wake of China's "coercion".
