Clock ticking on possible Xi-Trump meeting, warns top China adviser; who's delaying it?

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A leading Chinese foreign policy adviser has urged the US and China to accelerate talks for a potential Xi-Trump summit this fall. While diplomatic signals are improving, logistical delays and limited engagement outside trade circles are stalling progress. Experts warn the window for dialogue is rapidly closing. read more
A prominent Chinese foreign policy adviser has warned that time is running out for the United States and China to organise a long-anticipated summit between former President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, signalling that the window to reset bilateral ties may soon close unless preparations accelerate.
'If this summit is going to happen in the fall, then both sides need to get moving now,' said Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, during a panel at the World Peace Forum in Beijing on Friday. 'Time is limited and we need to begin making arrangements immediately.'
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Wu's comments come amid cautious optimism that the world's two largest economies are beginning to stabilise their relationship after months of escalating tensions. Trump and Xi last spoke in early June, and a fragile trade truce struck during talks in London last month appears to be holding.
'In the past week, I've seen real signs that both Washington and Beijing are delivering on their commitments,' Wu said. He pointed to the resumption of some rare earth exports from China and the easing of US restrictions on key tech components as promising indicators.
Progress but pressure builds
Under the current framework agreement, which runs until mid-August, China agreed to resume exports of rare earth materials essential for wind turbines, electric vehicles, and defence technology. In return, the US relaxed certain export controls, including those on chip-design software, jet engine parts and ethane.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that rare earth shipments from China have resumed, although not yet at previous levels. Meanwhile, Washington has begun allowing ethane exports and chip-design software sales to China without requiring additional licenses.
Despite these developments, the timeline for a potential Trump visit remains uncertain. Sources familiar with White House discussions say Trump's team has begun quietly sounding out business leaders about joining him on a possible trip to China later this year. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that 'no visit has been scheduled at this time.'
Opportunity on the horizon
Wu suggested that the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea in October might present a convenient window for Trump to also travel to Beijing. But such a visit, he stressed, requires a broader diplomatic push.
'You can't just leave this to the trade teams,' Wu said. 'We need the involvement of the entire government apparatus, especially the diplomatic and security channels. It's time for Foreign Minister Wang Yi to engage directly with his US counterpart.'
His remarks came a day after Liu Jianchao, another senior Chinese official, spoke positively about the future of US-China relations but warned that flashpoints like Taiwan and the South China Sea still carry risk. Liu described war between the two nations as 'unimaginable,' but not impossible if missteps continue.
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The stakes of a summit
Wu outlined two clear expectations for a potential Trump visit. First, he said Trump should publicly acknowledge China as America's most vital commercial partner. Second, he urged the US president to reaffirm Washington's long-standing stance of non-support for Taiwan's independence and support for peaceful reunification.
'Trump is a smart negotiator,' Wu said. 'He knows how to frame a deal that aligns with America's interests. When he's in Beijing, he'll say what needs to be said.'
For now, the momentum appears to be building—but without swift coordination, a meeting between Xi and Trump could remain just out of reach. Whether the delay lies in Beijing, Washington, or both, the clock is undeniably ticking.