President Donald Trump has said he agreed to visit Beijing in April and invited Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit later next year, following a phone call between the two leaders.
Trump and Xi - who met nearly a month ago in South Korea - discussed a range of issues including trade, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fentanyl and Taiwan, according to the president and China's foreign ministry.
Our relationship with China is extremely strong! Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
China's state news agency released a statement that emphasized the importance of continuing to build on their relationship based on equality, respect, and mutual benefit.
Following their previous encounter in Busan, South Korea, where they agreed to a truce on tariffs, the U.S. cut a 20% tariff in half aimed at decreasing the flow of fentanyl. Though tariffs remain on Chinese goods, averaging just below 50%, both nations show a positive outlook for future relations.
The leaders additionally discussed geopolitical issues, including Russia and Taiwan, with Xi reiterating Taiwan's significance to China's long-term vision.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that the recent discussions were conducive to moving forward positively, underlining that both countries are pleased with the current state of relations.
Trump's public reference to the call did not touch on the sensitive issue of Taiwan, despite its significance in international discussions, particularly in light of recent tensions involving Japan.
