In a significant development for international diplomacy, US President Donald Trump has confirmed plans to travel to Beijing in April next year, while highlighting his exceptionally strong personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Air Force One Announcement
Speaking to journalists during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, President Trump revealed details about his recent diplomatic outreach to global leaders. He expressed particular optimism about future cooperation with China and shared insights into his unique bond with the Chinese leader.
"I think we will be pleasantly surprised by the actions of President Xi. I have a great relationship with him. I like him. He likes me. I will be going there in April," Trump told reporters during the informal briefing.
Comprehensive Diplomatic Outreach
The US President's comments came shortly after his telephone conversation with President Xi, which covered a wide range of bilateral issues. According to officials briefed on the discussion, the two leaders addressed multiple critical topics including trade relations, Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, fentanyl controls, and agricultural exports such as soybeans.
Trump also discussed his recent engagement with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, emphasizing the strength of US-Japan relations. "I just came back from Japan, and we have a great relationship, the new Prime Minister and myself. She's very smart, she's very strong, and she's going to be a great leader," he remarked.
Reciprocal Visits Planned
In a detailed Truth Social post on Monday, President Trump had already hinted at the renewed engagement between the two economic powers. He described his phone call with Xi as "very good" and disclosed that the Chinese President had formally invited him to visit China in April.
The US President wrote: "Our relationship with China is extremely strong!" He further revealed that President Xi would later travel to the United States for a state visit, marking another high-level meeting aimed at sustaining economic momentum between the world's two largest economies.
Trump elaborated in his social media post: "Since then, there has been significant progress on both sides in keeping our agreements current and accurate. Now we can set our sights on the big picture. To that end, President Xi invited me to visit Beijing in April, which I accepted, and I reciprocated where he will be my guest for a State Visit in the U.S. later in the year."
This upcoming visit would mark Trump's second state visit to Beijing, following his November 2017 trip during his first term. Previous discussions between the leaders have focused on trade tensions, North Korea's missile program, and broader cooperation initiatives.
Both Washington and Beijing have confirmed that the recent telephone conversation was aimed at maintaining positive momentum since their meeting in South Korea last month and ensuring stability in bilateral dialogue channels.
