US President Donald Trump revealed plans to visit China following a constructive phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking their first direct communication since Trump initiated a trade war with Beijing in February.
The hour-and-a-half discussion, which Trump described as a "very good talk," focused primarily on trade and yielded a "very positive conclusion" for both nations, according to the U.S. president.
During the call, Trump extended an invitation for Xi to visit the White House, while Xi reciprocated by inviting Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to China.
"We both accepted," Trump stated during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office. However, Chinese state media confirmed Xi’s invitation but made no mention of a reciprocal White House visit.
The conversation comes on the heels of a tenuous trade agreement struck in Geneva in May, which reduced U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30% and saw Beijing lower levies on U.S. imports to 10%.
The deal, described by Trump as a "total reset," also included China’s commitment to ease restrictions on critical mineral exports. However, progress has stalled, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement.
The U.S. claims China has failed to resume shipments of rare earth magnets essential for industries like automotive and tech, while China’s Ministry of Commerce denies these allegations, pointing instead to new U.S. restrictions on semiconductor design software and Chinese student visas as breaches.
Trump addressed the visa issue, stating, "Chinese students can come, no problem—it’s an honor. But we want to check them." He also emphasized resolving concerns over rare earth products’ complexity.
The call also touched on Taiwan, with Xi urging the U.S. to approach the issue cautiously to avoid escalating tensions, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
This follows U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent warning about China’s military intentions toward Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province.
The dialogue signals a potential thaw in U.S.-China relations, though Beijing’s preference for structured negotiations contrasts with Trump’s hands-on approach, suggesting challenges ahead.
Source: BBC
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