Photo: AFP
Eurasia
11/09/2025 22:05
Signs are mounting that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping may meet later this year, as both countries step up diplomatic overtures in the shadow of persistent trade and security tensions.
President Trump has expressed willingness to meet Xi if key trade issues are resolved. In early August, he said that should a trade deal be struck, a summit would likely follow. Xi has reportedly extended an invitation to Trump to visit China, which Trump has accepted in principle.
The most likely window for a face-to-face meeting is tied to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which is scheduled for October 30 to November 1 in South Korea. Analysts believe Trump may visit China either just before or after the APEC summit if the diplomatic groundwork is sufficiently advanced. Neither side has confirmed precise dates or location for the summit.
Both Washington and Beijing face mounting internal and external pressures that make a summit appealing. On the U.S. side, trade tensions—tariffs, export controls, rare earth minerals and restrictions on advanced technologies—are inflicting pain on businesses and supply chains. Trump’s economic indicators are under scrutiny, and there is political incentive to show progress.
For China, meeting with Trump offers potential relief from high U.S. levies, opportunities to negotiate looser restrictions on key sectors like semiconductors, and a chance to project diplomatic stability.
