Trump Says He Is Set to Go to China in Spring Subsequent to Phone Conversation with Xi Jinping

President Donald Trump has declared that he agreed to go to Beijing in the month of April and invited Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit next year, following a discussion between the two leaders.

Trump and Xi—who convened about a month back in the Republic of Korea—talked about a variety of topics including trade, the situation in Ukraine, the opioid crisis, and the Taiwan issue, as stated by the U.S. leader and Chinese officials.

"Bilateral relations is very robust!" Trump posted in a Truth Social post.

China's state news agency published a announcement that indicated both countries should "continue advancing, proceed in the correct path on the principle of fairness, mutual respect and mutual benefit".

Prior Engagement and Commerce Progress

The heads of state held discussions in Busan, South Korea in October, subsequently they agreed to a truce on import duties. The United States decided to cut a 20% tariff by 50% targeting the supply of the drug fentanyl.

Trade taxes stay on products from China and stand at close to half.

"From that point, the bilateral relations has generally maintained a stable and upward path, and this is welcomed by the both nations and the international community at large," the Chinese statement noted.

• The United States then withdrew a potential imposition of full extra duties on products, while China postponed its plan to enforce its latest round of restrictions on rare earths.

Focus on Trade

The administration's spokesperson Karoline Leavitt commented that the phone discussion with Xi—which lasted about an hour—was focused on commerce.

"The U.S. is happy with what we've seen from the Beijing, and they agree," she noted.

Wider Discussions

Along with talking about trade, Xi and Trump broached the subjects of the conflict in Ukraine and the Taiwan situation.

Xi stated to Trump that Taiwan's "reunification with China" is essential for China's vision for the "global system after conflicts".

China has been involved in a foreign policy clash with Tokyo, a American partner, over the longstanding "strategic ambiguity" on the authority of Taiwan.

Earlier this month, Tokyo's head Sanae Takaichi said that an eventual military action by China on Taiwan could lead to a Japanese military response.

Trump, however, did not refer to the island in his Truth Social post about the call.

The U.S. representative in Japan, George Glass, had earlier stated that the U.S. government supports Tokyo in the wake of Beijing's "coercion".