President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have agreed to reciprocal state visits in 2026, signaling a commitment to stabilize the increasingly complex relationship between the world’s two largest economies. Trump announced Monday that he accepted an invitation to visit Beijing in April, following a lengthy phone discussion with Xi. In return, the American president extended an invitation for Xi to conduct a state visit to the United States later next year. This diplomatic exchange follows their in-person meeting in South Korea last month and comes amid efforts to de-escalate trade hostility and find common ground on geopolitics, despite underlying tensions concerning Taiwan and global conflicts.
The leaders’ conversation covered a range of critical topics, including agricultural trade, the proliferation of fentanyl, and the conflict in Ukraine. Immediately following the call, President Trump declared the U.S.-China relationship “extremely strong” via a post on Truth Social. Although Beijing confirmed the discussion, its public readout, which initially announced the call, conspicuously omitted any mention of the proposed state visits, focusing instead on trade, Taiwan, and Ukraine.
Differing Priorities Highlight Enduring Friction
The dueling readouts from Washington and Beijing underscore persistent points of friction. According to China’s account, Xi emphasized that the “return of Taiwan to the mainland is an integral part of the post-war international order”—a perspective notably absent from the White House summary. While the U.S. maintains an official policy of non-position on Taiwan’s sovereignty, it staunchly opposes any forceful resolution and is legally obliged to supply Taipei with defensive capabilities. The Trump administration recently approved a $330 million arms package for Taiwan, a move Beijing condemned as a direct violation of the one-China principle.
The conversation also occurred against a backdrop of deteriorating China-Japan relations following comments from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting Tokyo’s military could intervene if Beijing acted against Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reacted strongly, accusing Japan of crossing a “red line.”
Addressing the global crisis in Ukraine, President Trump’s administration is actively pursuing a negotiated settlement. Xi expressed support for a “fair, lasting and binding peace agreement,” advocating that the conflict’s root causes must be addressed. While Beijing publicly asserts its neutral stance, Western governments continue to accuse China of indirectly aiding Russia’s military efforts through industrial and economic support.
Economic Progress on Trade and Fentanyl
Trade normalization was a prominent feature of the discussion, with President Trump noting “significant progress” since the October meeting. Specifically, the leaders discussed crucial agricultural purchases, including U.S. soybeans. China recently committed to purchasing nearly two million metric tonnes of American soybeans after a prolonged pause. Although this figure falls short of the higher amounts previously discussed, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins suggested that evidence points toward China making strides to fulfill its overall commitments.
Beyond farming, the nations addressed the significant public health crisis driven by fentanyl. In a collaborative effort, China recently imposed export controls on 13 precursor chemicals vital for illicit drug manufacturing destined for the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Reciprocally, the Trump administration has reduced selected tariffs on Chinese imports, contributing to the perceived thaw in trade tensions.
Xi characterized the bilateral ties since the last summit as maintaining a “steady and positive” trajectory, urging both sides to drive further progress. As economic headwinds ease, President Trump concluded that it is now time to “set our sights on the big picture,” suggesting a renewed focus on long-term cooperation and minimizing diplomatic discord.