Donald Trump Says He Plans to Travel to China in Spring After Call with President Xi
Former President Donald Trump has stated that he will go to China's capital in the month of April and asked Chinese President Xi Jinping for a diplomatic trip next year, subsequent to a telephone conversation between the two heads of state.
Trump and Xi—who convened about a month back in South Korea—talked about a range of issues including commerce, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fentanyl, and Taiwan, per the president and China's foreign ministry.
"Bilateral relations is highly solid!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Beijing's press outlet published a statement that noted both countries should "maintain progress, proceed in the correct path on the principle of equality, esteem and mutual benefit".
Earlier Talks and Trade Developments
The heads of state convened in Busan in October, following which they settled on a pause on tariffs. The United States opted to cut a import tax by half aimed at the supply of fentanyl.
Trade taxes continue on products from China and are around close to half.
"Since then, the Sino-American ties 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 added.
- The United States then pulled back a warning of double tariffs on Chinese goods, while Beijing postponed its scheme to implement its new set of rare earth export controls.
Economic Emphasis
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the Monday call with Xi—which took around 60 minutes—was centered on economic issues.
"We are pleased with what we've witnessed from the China, and they agree," she said.
Wider Discussions
Besides addressing trade, Xi and Trump raised the topics of the Ukraine war and the Taiwan situation.
Xi told Trump that the island's "reunification with China" is essential for Beijing's perspective for the "global system after conflicts".
The Chinese government has been involved in a diplomatic battle with the Japanese government, a U.S. friend, over the enduring "vague stance" on the authority of self-governed Taiwan.
In the past few weeks, Japan's leader Sanae Takaichi said that any assault from Beijing on Taiwan could lead to a response from Japan's forces.
Trump, however, did not mention the island in his Truth Social post about the discussion.
America's envoy to Tokyo, George Glass, had earlier stated that the US supports Tokyo in the context of China's "coercion".
