Donald Trump Reveals He Plans to Travel to China in April Subsequent to Discussion with Xi Jinping
President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will visit the Chinese capital in the month of April and extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit in the coming year, subsequent to a telephone conversation between the two officials.
Trump and Xi—who convened about a month back in South Korea—covered a series of matters including commerce, the situation in Ukraine, the opioid crisis, and the Taiwan issue, per the U.S. leader and Beijing's diplomatic corps.
"Bilateral relations is extremely strong!" Trump stated in a online message.
Beijing's press outlet issued a statement that indicated both nations should "maintain progress, proceed in the positive way on the basis of parity, respect and mutual benefit".
Earlier Talks and Economic Agreements
The officials held discussions in Busan in the fall, after which they agreed to a truce on trade taxes. The U.S. government decided to slash a 20 percent duty by 50% aimed at the flow of fentanyl.
Tariffs stay on products from China and are around close to half.
"From that point, the China-US relationship has largely sustained a steady and positive trajectory, and this is greeted positively by the both nations and the wider global audience," the Chinese statement said.
- America then pulled back a warning of 100% additional tariffs on China's exports, while China postponed its intention to enforce its recent phase of limits on mineral exports.
Economic Emphasis
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt commented that the phone discussion with Xi—which took around 60 minutes—was mainly about economic issues.
"We are satisfied with what we've observed from the China, and they feel the same way," she remarked.
Wider Discussions
Besides discussing economic matters, Xi and Trump broached the topics of the conflict in Ukraine and the island.
Xi stated to Trump that Taiwan's "return to China" is critical for the Chinese outlook for the "global system after conflicts".
Beijing has been engaged in a diplomatic battle with Japan, a American partner, over the long-term "uncertain policy" on the sovereignty of the independently administered island.
Earlier this month, Japan's leader Sanae Takaichi said that any Chinese attack on the island could compel a reaction by Tokyo's army.
Trump, however, did not discuss the island in his online message about the call.
America's envoy to Tokyo, George Glass, noted before that the US supports Tokyo in the context of Beijing's "coercion".