US President Donald Trump has confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the White House later this year, signalling an effort to recalibrate relations between the world’s two largest economies after years of trade tensions.
Trump made the announcement in an interview with NBC News, describing the bilateral relationship as “very good” and noting that “these are the two most powerful countries in the world.” The interview followed a wide-ranging phone call between the two leaders, during which they discussed trade, Taiwan, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the situation in Iran.
The US president said he plans to visit China in April, ahead of Xi’s reciprocal visit to Washington in late 2026. Xi last visited the US in 2023.
During the call, Xi reportedly urged caution over US arms sales to self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, while also expressing hope that ongoing issues, including trade disputes, could be resolved amicably. “By tackling issues one by one and continuously building mutual trust, we can forge a right way for the two countries to get along,” Xi said, according to China’s state broadcaster CCTV.
Trump described the conversation as “excellent,” adding: “We both realize how important it is to keep it that way.”
Since returning to office, Trump’s administration has pursued an aggressive trade policy, imposing sector-specific tariffs on steel, autos, and other goods, while also implementing broader measures aimed at achieving key policy objectives. Despite ongoing frictions, a broad truce was reached last spring, and the US and Chinese economies remain closely interconnected.
In a related development, the United States on Friday proposed trilateral talks with Russia and China to explore new nuclear weapons limits. Beijing has so far declined to participate in such disarmament negotiations “at this stage.”
