U.S. diplomatic sources, including Ambassador Kurt Tong, project a high-level summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in early 2026. This follows their recently scheduled meeting at the APEC Summit in South Korea and a productive phone call.
In that call, both leaders discussed a broad set of contentious issues: trade practices, national security, and the future of TikTok in the U.S. Despite unresolved details, both sides offered signals of continued cooperation and reciprocal state visits.
Experts believe the timing could allow momentum from APEC to carry into more formal negotiations. The announcement of a visit to China by Trump adds urgency to diplomatic efforts in contrast to years of rising tensions over tariffs, export controls, and regional disputes.
But the path won’t be simple. Among the complex issues to be addressed: China’s export restrictions on high-tech goods, data privacy and content regulation (TikTok), and geopolitical flashpoints like Taiwan and maritime claims in the South China Sea.
The expected meeting, if concrete, would mark the first in-person Trump-Xi summit since 2019, signaling a possible thaw in relations and setting the stage for future bilateral cooperation.
