
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump has told advisers he wants to travel to China after taking office, according to people familiar with the discussions, because of the Chinese president-elect’s threat to impose higher tariffs on Chinese imports. Wants to deepen ties with Xi Jinping
Trump visited Beijing in 2017, nearly a year into his first term. Aides cautioned that no decision had been made on whether he would go again. Trump has expressed interest in traveling to China in his first 100 days in office, said one of the people familiar with the discussions. Trump’s transition team did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump and Xi spoke by phone Friday for the first time since the November election, discussing trade, fentanyl, TikTok and other topics. “I expect we will solve many problems together, and start immediately,” Trump wrote on social media after the call.
Trump and Xi have discussed meeting in person through their representatives, including an option in which the incoming US president invites the Chinese leader to the US, people close to Beijing’s decision-making body said. It is unclear whether Trump visited China. His Friday conversation with Xi.
Trump had invited Xi to his inauguration on Monday, but the Chinese leader is sending Vice President Han Zheng instead.
With economic pressure building in China, Beijing has a keen interest in engaging in negotiations to prevent or at least slow Trump’s promised tariff hikes. People close to Beijing’s decision-making say a summit between the two leaders could help start that process. Trump has promised to impose tariffs of up to 60 percent on imports from China.
China’s official account of Friday’s phone call between Trump and Xi said the two leaders agreed to establish a strategic communication channel. In it, Trump told the Chinese leader that he “looks forward to meeting with President Xi as soon as possible.”
Trump’s visit to Beijing in late 2017 came months after he met Xi face-to-face for the first time at his Florida estate Mar-a-Lago. He visited the Forbidden City and gave a Peking Opera performance.
Trump has also discussed a possible visit to India with advisers, according to people close to him.
His initial focus is expected to be on domestic moves, including new border security measures and increased deportations. He is expected to visit the United States in his first week in office to sign off on energy and other issues, according to people familiar with his plans. Trump plans to visit fire-ravaged Los Angeles later in the week.
The Beijing meeting will come at a critical moment in relations between the world’s leading superpowers. Along with new tariffs on Chinese imports, Trump has urged Beijing to crack down on Chinese chemical producers who supply ingredients for fentanyl to Mexican cartels.
Another potential flashpoint is Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory and has not ruled out using force. Trump has not said much about how he would handle America’s fragile relationship with Taipei, other than pressuring its leaders to spend more on defense. In his call on Friday, Xi reminded Trump to handle the Taiwan issue “wisely,” calling it an issue of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, state media said.
Taiwanese Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu will lead a Taiwanese delegation, including lawmakers from both the Democratic and Nationalist, or Kuomintang, parties, who will attend Trump’s inauguration.
“This is about representing the government in a bilateral way, showing how much we value Taiwan-US relations,” Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told reporters earlier this month. And taking this opportunity to congratulate the Trump administration.”
Han, Xi’s special envoy for Trump’s inauguration, is seen by many in Washington as a pragmatist. He largely plays a ceremonial role as vice president. An English speaker, Han ran Shanghai for years, and American businesses saw him as an ally who supported foreign investment. Some executives have expressed hope that Xi will choose Han as his representative for the inauguration because it could signal the Trump team’s willingness to negotiate a trade deal with Beijing.
Trump may see Xi as a partner in helping end the war in Ukraine, as China has provided aid to Russia, angering US lawmakers. Trump’s social media post about Friday’s call with Xi did not mention the controversy. “President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the world more peaceful and secure!” He said.
Annie Lynskey contributed to this article.