China has called on the United States to remove obstacles and manage differences ahead of an expected September summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as Washington and Beijing seek to stabilize relations despite continuing disputes over trade, technology, Taiwan and other strategic issues.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the appeal during a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue on Wednesday. Wang urged both countries to focus on a positive agenda, properly manage their differences, remove interference and overcome obstacles to high-level exchanges.
Summit Preparations Underway
The meeting comes ahead of an expected Trump-Xi summit next month. The leaders’ meeting is tentatively scheduled for September 24, although a final confirmation has not yet been announced.
The upcoming summit is viewed as an important opportunity for the two governments to prevent renewed tensions from undermining recent efforts to stabilize their relationship.
Wang acknowledged that China-U.S. relations continue to face “various risks and challenges,” while emphasizing the importance of maintaining communication between the world’s two largest economies.
Trade Tensions Remain a Major Challenge
Trade is expected to remain one of the most difficult issues facing Trump and Xi.
Although Washington and Beijing have taken steps toward managing their trade dispute, the United States continues to consider additional tariffs on Chinese goods, including measures linked to concerns over China’s industrial overcapacity and forced labor. China has strongly opposed such measures, accusing Washington of politicizing trade and has warned that it will take countermeasures when necessary.
The two sides also continue to compete over advanced technology, supply chains, investment and access to strategic resources such as rare earth minerals.
Taiwan and Security Issues
Beyond economics, Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive issues in the bilateral relationship.
Beijing regards Taiwan as part of China and has repeatedly warned Washington against actions it believes could strengthen Taiwan’s international position. Wang previously urged the United States to handle Taiwan-related matters with the “utmost caution,” warning that developments surrounding the island could affect the broader relationship.
The two governments also have competing interests across the Indo-Pacific and differing positions on regional security, technology restrictions and China’s relationships with countries including Russia and Iran.
Search for Stability
The planned summit follows a period in which Trump and Xi have maintained high-level engagement while failing to resolve many of their fundamental disagreements.
Their May summit in Beijing produced progress in some areas but no major breakthrough on the most difficult structural disputes. Trump subsequently invited Xi to visit Washington, increasing expectations that the two leaders could use another face-to-face meeting to prevent tensions from escalating.
For Beijing, Wang’s latest comments signal a preference for continued dialogue and practical cooperation while opposing what China considers unilateral pressure from Washington.
For Washington, the summit could provide an opportunity to address trade and economic concerns while seeking greater predictability in a relationship that has significant implications for global markets and international security.
Global Implications
Any improvement in U.S.-China relations could have consequences well beyond the two countries. The world’s largest economies remain deeply connected through trade, investment and global supply chains, meaning new tariffs or restrictions could affect businesses and consumers internationally.
With the September meeting approaching, both governments are expected to intensify diplomatic preparations. Whether Trump and Xi can turn calls for dialogue into concrete agreements will depend on their ability to manage longstanding disagreements while identifying areas where cooperation remains possible.
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