Former President Donald Trump has declared that he will travel to Beijing in spring and asked Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit next year, after a telephone conversation between the two heads of state.
Trump and Xi—who convened about a month back in Korea—discussed a variety of topics including trade, the Ukraine conflict, synthetic drugs, and Taiwan, according to the president and Chinese officials.
"Our relationship with China is highly solid!" Trump posted in a social media update.
Official Chinese media published a comment that indicated both nations should "keep up the momentum, keep moving forward in the positive way on the principle of equality, respect and common gain".
Previous Meeting and Economic Agreements
The officials held discussions in Busan in the fall, following which they agreed to a truce on trade taxes. The United States decided to reduce a import tax by 50% intended to decrease the flow of fentanyl.
Tariffs continue on imports and average nearly 50 percent.
"From that point, the China-US relationship has mostly kept a stable and upward path, and this is welcomed by the each side and the wider global audience," the Chinese statement noted.
- America then retracted a potential imposition of 100% additional tariffs on China's exports, while Beijing delayed its scheme to implement its latest round of restrictions on rare earths.
Economic Emphasis
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt commented that the Monday call with Xi—which lasted about an hour—was centered on commerce.
"We are satisfied with what we've witnessed from the China, and they agree," she remarked.
Wider Discussions
In addition to talking about commerce, Xi and Trump discussed the topics of the Ukraine war and the island.
Xi stated to Trump that the island's "return to China" is vital for Beijing's perspective for the "world order following wars".
The Chinese government has been part of a foreign policy clash with Tokyo, a US ally, over the enduring "strategic ambiguity" on the sovereignty of self-governed Taiwan.
Recently, Tokyo's head Sanae Takaichi stated that any assault from Beijing on Taiwan could compel a response from Japan's forces.
Trump, however, did not discuss the island in his Truth Social post about the call.
America's envoy to Tokyo, George Glass, noted before that the U.S. government backs Tokyo in the context of Beijing's "pressure".
