Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to travel to Washington for a state visit and a high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump. This trip marks Xi's second state visit to the United States, following his first in 2015. The upcoming visit is expected to complete reciprocal visits between the two presidents within months. The relationship between China and the US has experienced turbulence over the past decade, making the management of ties crucial for both countries and the world.
During his visit to Beijing in May, Xi hosted Trump and posed three questions: Can China and the US overcome their differences and create a new paradigm for major-country relations? Can they address global challenges together and provide stability for the world? Can they build a bright future for their bilateral relations, benefiting both nations and humanity? These questions highlighted the need for a constructive relationship between the world's two major powers.
The Beijing summit gave renewed momentum to efforts to improve China-US relations. Xi and Trump agreed on a new vision of building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability over the next three years and beyond. According to Da Wei, director of the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, this marks the first time in over a decade that China and the US have established a consensus on defining their relationship.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the importance of head-of-state diplomacy in maintaining China-US relations. In a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Wang Yi prepared for the upcoming summit, highlighting the anchor role of head-of-state diplomacy. Since Trump's re-election, Xi has maintained contact with him through various means, including face-to-face meetings and phone calls.
Xi and Trump have engaged in personal interactions, including a private meeting at Zhongnanhai, the leadership compound in central Beijing. During the May visit, Xi invited Trump to Zhongnanhai, where they strolled in the garden and discussed their countries' perspectives. Xi has often used such informal settings to promote understanding and cooperation between the two nations.
Economic and trade relations have been a significant aspect of China-US relations. Xi has likened the relationship to a giant ship, requiring ballast to stay on course through rough waters. Following the surge of US tariffs in 2025, Beijing responded with countermeasures while continuing negotiations with Washington. The dialogue has continued, with their latest round of talks concluded in New York on Sunday.
Xi has emphasized that there is no winner in a trade war and that decoupling and cutting off supply chains will not hold back China's development process. He has also reached out to the American business community, meeting with representatives from US business, strategic, and academic communities in Beijing. During the May visit, Xi sat down with Trump alongside executives from prominent US companies, including Apple, Nvidia, Tesla, and Boeing.
Key points
- China and US agree on a new vision of building a constructive relationship of strategic stability
- Xi Jinping's visit to US aims to improve bilateral relations and address global challenges
- Economic and trade relations serve as the "ballast" for China-US relations
