Beijing: Xi Jinping and Trump diplomacy play an irreplaceable role

US President Donald Trump with Chinese President Xi Jinping/PHOTO: White House via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - The Chinese government stated that inter-state diplomacy is still irreplaceable in China-US relations even though the plan for US President Donald Trump to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping had to be postponed and scheduled for May 14-15.

"The diplomacy of the head of state plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance for China-US relations. Both countries are communicating about President Trump's visit to China," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a press conference in Beijing, Thursday, March 26, reported by ANTARA.

The White House earlier announced President Donald Trump would hold a "long-awaited" meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14-15, 2026.

Shortly after the announcement, Trump confirmed on social media that he would meet with Xi Jinping for two days.

"Our representatives are finalizing preparations for this historic visit. I look forward to spending time with President Xi in what I am sure will be a monumental event," Trump wrote.

Originally, Trump's agenda with China was scheduled for March 31-April 2, 2026. However, the visit was postponed due to Trump's desire to remain in America and focus on the war that had just begun with Iran.

Trump's visit to China will be his first since he returned to office in January 2025.

Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, will host President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on a reciprocal visit in Washington on a date to be announced later this year.

When asked whether the Trump administration expected the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28 to end by mid-May, Leavitt said his party had always expected the military operation to be completed in about four to six weeks.

"So, you can count on it. I know the President (Donald Trump) hopes to go to China on May 14 and 15," Leavitt said.

Since agreeing to a one-year truce with Xi Jinping in the American and Chinese trade war in October 2025, Trump has said the two have made progress on the economic front and put their relationship on a more stable footing.

Topics to be discussed at the summit include trade and Taiwan, as well as additional purchases of American agricultural products by China, which Trump wants to "secure" ahead of the November midterm elections.