Trump’s Possible China Visit Tied to Jet and Soybean Deals

BEIJING, Sept 19 (VoM): China and the United States are in the “final stage” of talks to arrange a state visit to Beijing by US President Donald Trump, with major purchases of American goods forming a key part of the agreement, sources told the South China Morning Post.

The potential trip comes after the fourth round of US-China trade negotiations in Spain and ahead of a scheduled phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Trump hailed the Madrid talks as a “success,” saying both sides reached a framework on TikTok and discussed issues including critical minerals and fentanyl.

Two sources familiar with the negotiations said “significant progress” had been made. While some details remain unresolved, the broader framework is largely complete. “Deliverables may include a new deal to purchase US goods,” one source said, noting that Boeing aircraft and soybeans were “very likely” to feature in the package.

China formally sent Trump an official state visit invitation in early September, which sources said signals that planning is already in an “advanced stage.”

Beyond Beijing, China has proposed that Trump travel by high-speed rail to a second city, most likely Shanghai, to showcase the country’s infrastructure. The journey between Beijing and Shanghai takes just four hours on China’s fastest trains.

The visit could also coincide with the China International Import Expo (CIIE), scheduled in Shanghai from November 5 to 7, where Xi often hosts global leaders.

However, the US side is weighing whether the trip may be physically demanding for Trump, who is 79 years old, and whether it could be interpreted as a concession to Beijing. Still, sources noted that Trump appears personally enthusiastic about the visit.

If the trip materializes, it would mark the first visit by a US president to China since 2017 and could pave the way for a reciprocal visit by Xi to Washington next year.