A high-level meeting between the presidents of the United States and China now seems more likely to take place next year rather than this autumn, according to David Perdue, the U.S. Ambassador to China.
He made the comments during a press briefing in Beijing, where he accompanied a rare bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers—the first visit of its kind since 2019—to ease tensions between the two countries.
Perdue expressed optimism about the current state of U.S.-China relations, saying, “We’re looking forward to getting together, as President Trump said, and potentially in the near future, but certainly next year.”
This follows a phone call last Friday between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump shared on social media that they had agreed to meet around a multilateral summit in South Korea next month and indicated plans for reciprocal visits, with Trump going to China early next year, followed by Xi’s visit to the U.S. However, China’s official summary of the call did not confirm these details.
The congressional delegation, led by Democratic Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, held discussions with Vice Premier He Lifeng and Premier Li Qiang during their visit. Smith revealed that the talks included efforts to resolve ongoing disputes over TikTok’s ownership and management, an issue that continues to strain Sino-American relations.
Smith stressed the importance of improving communication channels between Washington and Beijing, especially in military and security matters.
“We’re still sort of talking past each other,” he admitted, highlighting the difficulties in mutual understanding. “The goal is not necessarily to get on the same page but at least to get in the same book.”
The visit takes place amid ongoing competition between the U.S. and China on trade, technology, and security issues. Diplomatic exchanges have been limited in recent years, heightening concerns about misunderstandings escalating into conflict. Analysts view this renewed engagement as a crucial step towards reducing tensions and fostering cooperation on global challenges like climate change, North Korea’s nuclear programme, and economic stability.
Vice Premier He reportedly emphasised the need for stabilising relations during discussions with the U.S. delegation. Meanwhile, Premier Li’s meeting with the lawmakers focused on economic collaboration and mutual interests in a fragile geopolitical context.
Efforts to sustain dialogue reflect both countries’ desire to manage competition without allowing it to escalate into open confrontation. Ambassador Perdue described the relationship between Presidents Xi and Trump as “very good and very encouraging,” suggesting that their personal rapport could play a key role in shaping future diplomacy.