Xi Jinping to Visit White House Late This Year Following "Excellent" Talks with Trump

Trump confirmed the news in an interview with NBC News taped last Wednesday, February 4, describing a recent wide-ranging telephone conversation with Xi as "positive and productive." The White House visit will follow a planned trip by Trump to Beijing in April, marking his first state visit to China since returning to office.

During their nearly hour-long phone call on February 4, the two leaders addressed a complex agenda including trade disputes, the Taiwan issue, the war in Ukraine, and the situation in Iran. According to Chinese state media (CCTV), President Xi urged Trump to exercise "caution" regarding U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, emphasizing that the issue remains the core of China-U.S. relations. For his part, Trump highlighted his strong personal rapport with Xi, noting that both nations are committed to maintaining a stable relationship despite ongoing strategic competition.

On the economic front, the two leaders discussed a "tactical truce" established after a period of heightened tensions last year. Under this agreement, the United States has reduced fentanyl-related tariffs on Chinese goods from 20% to 10%, while China has committed to purchasing at least 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually for the next three years. Additionally, Trump revealed that Beijing is considering increased imports of U.S. oil, gas, and airplane engines to help narrow the trade deficit. Analysts view these upcoming high-level summits as a critical effort to inject predictability into a relationship that remains vital to global economic and security interests.