Xi-Trump Summit in Beijing seen as crucial bid to stabilise China-US relations

BEIJING: At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump will pay a state visit to China from May 13 to 15, in a high-stakes diplomatic engagement being closely watched around the world amid persistent geopolitical tensions and global economic uncertainty.

The announcement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China on Monday, with analysts viewing the summit as a critical opportunity to further stabilise relations between the world’s two largest economies and inject greater certainty into international affairs.

Observers say head-of-state diplomacy has continued to serve as the central stabilising force in China-US ties despite years of strategic rivalry and trade disputes.

Wu Xinbo said direct engagement between the two leaders helps “set the tone and define the direction” of bilateral relations, while Sun Taiyi noted that leader-to-leader communication reduces uncertainty, prevents miscalculation and signals that stability remains the overriding objective.

Over the past year, Xi and Trump have maintained regular communication through phone calls and a face-to-face meeting in Busan in October 2025, a development analysts say helped prevent major diplomatic escalation and maintained overall stability in bilateral relations.

During that meeting, Xi told Trump that both countries should “stay the right course” and ensure the “steady sailing forward” of China-US relations despite global challenges and tensions.

That diplomatic engagement has also translated into practical developments. Since 2025, economic teams from both sides have held several rounds of talks under the strategic consensus reached by the two leaders, while large-scale tariff escalation between the two countries has remained suspended.

Another round of economic consultations is scheduled to take place in South Korea from May 12 to 13, immediately before the Beijing summit.

People-to-people exchanges between the two countries have also regained momentum in recent months. In April, Beijing hosted events marking the 55th anniversary of “Ping-Pong Diplomacy”, with hundreds of young Chinese and American participants taking part in cultural and sports exchanges.

Analysts believe the summit carries implications far beyond bilateral ties, given the central role of China and the United States in the global economy and international governance.

Chad Bown remarked that “virtually everyone has a stake in the outcome”, while Eswar Prasad said the meeting could shape future global trade dynamics, geopolitical stability and the broader rules-based international order.