Beyond a trade deal: will more Xi-Trump summits lead to new era of stability?

The world’s two largest powers signalled at least 14 months of likely stability in US-China relations following a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump – and hinted they would meet “regularly”, setting the stage for more encounters next year.

During talks on Thursday that highlighted the personal connection between the two leaders and struck a conciliatory tone for long-term ties, Beijing and Washington reached a truce on thorny issues ranging from soybeans and rare earths to fentanyl, with a trade deal expected to be signed as soon as next week.

Minutes after the high-stakes meeting in South Korea, Trump told reporters that both sides had agreed that he would visit China in April and that Xi was also expected to visit Palm Beach or Washington “some time after that”.

Beijing’s official release later confirmed that Trump looked forward to visiting China “early next year” and that Xi had been invited to visit the US.

‘We have a deal’: Trump claims breakthrough after ‘12 out of 10’ talks with Xi Jinping

‘We have a deal’: Trump claims breakthrough after ‘12 out of 10’ talks with Xi Jinping

“The two presidents agreed to maintain interactions on a regular basis,” a Chinese statement issued by state news agency Xinhua said.