Donald Trump Announces He Is Set to Go to China in the Month of April Subsequent to Call with President Xi
Leader Donald Trump has confirmed that he will travel to the Chinese capital in the month of April and extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping for a official visit next year, subsequent to a discussion between the two heads of state.
Trump and Xi—who convened nearly a month ago in South Korea—talked about a range of issues including trade, the situation in Ukraine, synthetic drugs, and the Taiwan issue, according to the president and Chinese officials.
"Our relationship with China is extremely strong!" Trump posted in a social media update.
Beijing's press outlet issued a comment that noted both countries should "keep up the momentum, progress in the positive way on the basis of equality, esteem and common gain".
Earlier Talks and Commerce Progress
The leaders met in the South Korean city of Busan in October, following which they agreed to a truce on trade taxes. The US opted to slash a 20 percent duty by 50% aimed at the movement of fentanyl.
Tariffs continue on products from China and are around just below 50%.
"Since then, the China-US relationship has mostly kept a consistent and favorable course, and this is welcomed by the both nations and the broader international community," the Beijing's announcement noted.
- The US then retracted a warning of full extra duties on China's exports, while Beijing delayed its intention to enforce its new set of limits on mineral exports.
Economic Emphasis
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 feel the same way," she noted.
Broader Topics
Along with addressing trade, Xi and Trump raised the issues of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Taiwan situation.
Xi told Trump that Taiwan's "return to China" is essential for Beijing's perspective for the "world order following wars".
The Chinese government has been engaged in a political dispute with Tokyo, a US ally, over the enduring "vague stance" on the authority of Taiwan.
Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that any military action by China on Taiwan could force a Japanese military response.
Trump, but, did not mention Taiwan in his online message about the conversation.
The U.S. representative in Japan, George Glass, noted before that the US supports the Japanese in the wake of China's "coercion".
