Metro Manila, Philippines – Chinese President Xi Jinping will go on a state visit to the United States from Sept. 23 to 25 at the invitation of President Donald Trump, China’s Foreign Ministry announced Monday, Sept.21.
The two leaders are expected to hold extensive talks on bilateral relations and major international issues during the three-day visit.
“President Xi will hold in-depth exchanges of views with President Trump on major issues concerning China-US relations, as well as world peace and development,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said during a regular press briefing.
Beijing did not immediately announce the locations of the meetings or release a detailed itinerary for Xi’s visit.
Guo described the reciprocal visits by Xi and Trump within six months as having “historic, milestone significance.”
The visit comes as the world’s two largest economies navigate their differences while seeking to prevent their rivalry from escalating into a broader confrontation.
“China is willing to work with the US to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, properly manage differences, continuously enhance the well-being of the peoples of both countries, and promote world peace, stability and prosperity,” Guo said.
The announcement did not identify the specific bilateral agreements or policy issues expected to be discussed.
PH issues
In July, Trump assured President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that he will raise the South China Sea issue in his meeting with Xi.
The United States is the Philippines’ treaty ally, while China remains one of the country’s largest trading partners.
Manila and Beijing, however, continue to face disputes in the South China Sea.
In a previous interview on The Newsmaker, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Trump’s commitment to discuss the West Philippine Sea with Xi came after Marcos updated him on recent developments during their phone conversation, not because the Philippine leader had asked him to do so.
“Happened, nag-usap sila at tinanong, kumusta na si President Trump. So sabi naman ni President Marcos, okay lang, but we’re holding the fort. As you know, marami kaming mga challenges dito, minention niya ‘yung nangyari sa West Philippine Sea, very fresh nga naman ‘yun, eh. But sabi naman ni President Trump, ‘Let me mention that too.’ So, sumbong is not the right word,” said Romualdez.
[Translation: They spoke, and President Trump asked how President Marcos was doing. President Marcos replied that things were okay and that they were ‘holding the fort’ despite the many challenges. He mentioned the recent incident in the West Philippine Sea because it had just happened. President Trump then said, ‘Let me mention that too.’ So, describing it as ‘telling on someone’ is not the right way to characterize the conversation.]
Romualdez said Trump’s response reflected the strength of the Philippines’ alliance with the United States under the Mutual Defense Treaty.
“But because we are both facing the same challenges that we want to have a free and open Indo-Pacific, especially the freedom of navigation, so it’s perfect that President Trump, who obviously is the head of the superpower, will have the opportunity to discuss it with President Xi when he goes to Washington in September,” the envoy said.
Romualdez also described the phone conversation as “very fruitful and very timely,” saying Trump had long wanted to speak with Marcos and that the call came after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Manila for the ASEAN meetings.
