Beijing: Xi Jinping and Trump Diplomacy Plays an Irreplaceable Role

Beijing (ANTARA) - The Chinese government has stated that diplomacy between heads of state remains irreplaceable in China-US relations, even though plans for the arrival of US President Donald Trump to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping have been postponed and rescheduled for 14-15 May. “Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance for China-US relations. The two countries are communicating regarding President Trump’s visit to China,” said Spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Lin Jian during a press conference in Beijing on Thursday (26/3). The White House had previously announced that President Donald Trump would hold a “long-awaited” meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on 14-15 May 2026. “Our representatives are finalising preparations for this historic visit. I am very much looking forward to spending time with President Xi in what I am confident will be a monumental event,” Trump wrote. Initially, Trump’s agenda to China was scheduled for 31 March-2 April 2026. However, the visit was postponed due to Trump’s desire to remain in the United States and focus on the war that has just begun with Iran. The visit to China will be the first since he returned to office in January 2025. When asked whether the Trump administration anticipates that the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on 28 February will end by mid-May, Leavitt said that they always anticipated that the military operation would be completed in about four to six weeks. “So, you can do the math. I know President (Donald Trump) hopes to go to China on 14 and 15 May,” Leavitt said. Since approving a one-year ceasefire with Xi Jinping in the US-China trade war in October 2025, Trump has stated that the two have made progress in the economic field and placed their relationship on a more stable footing. The main topics to be discussed at the summit include trade and Taiwan, as well as additional purchases of US agricultural products by China, which Trump wants to “secure” ahead of the upcoming midterm elections in November.