Donald Trump Reveals He Is Set to Go to China in April Subsequent to Phone Conversation with President Xi
President Donald Trump has confirmed that he agreed to go to the Chinese capital in April and extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit later next year, subsequent to a discussion between the two heads of state.
Trump and Xi—who held talks recently in Korea—covered a range of issues including commerce, the Ukraine conflict, synthetic drugs, and Taiwan, as stated by the former president and Chinese officials.
"Bilateral relations is highly solid!" Trump wrote in a social media update.
Beijing's press outlet released a comment that noted both states should "keep up the momentum, progress in the positive way on the basis of fairness, respect and shared interests".
Earlier Talks and Trade Developments
The heads of state held discussions in Busan in last October, following which they reached a ceasefire on trade taxes. The US opted to reduce a 20% tariff by 50% aimed at the supply of opioids.
Tariffs continue on Chinese goods and average just below 50%.
"Afterwards, the bilateral relations has mostly kept a stable and upward path, and this is welcomed by the both nations and the international community at large," the Beijing's announcement noted.
- The US then withdrew a threat of double tariffs on products, while Beijing delayed its scheme to introduce its recent phase of restrictions on rare earths.
Focus on Trade
The administration's spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that the phone discussion with Xi—which took around 60 minutes—was mainly about trade.
"We are satisfied with what we've observed from the China, and they share that sentiment," she noted.
Additional Issues
Besides discussing commerce, Xi and Trump raised the issues of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Taiwan.
Xi informed Trump that Taiwan's "reunification with China" is critical for Beijing's perspective for the "world order following wars".
Beijing has been part of a political dispute with Tokyo, a US ally, over the longstanding "vague stance" on the control of self-governed Taiwan.
In the past few weeks, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that an eventual military action by China on Taiwan could compel a reaction by Tokyo's army.
Trump, but, did not refer to the Taiwan issue in his social media update about the conversation.
The U.S. representative in Japan, George Glass, had earlier stated that the US stands with the Japanese in the wake of Beijing's "intimidation".