China Invites Trump For Beijing Summit, White House Yet To Respond

China has formally invited U.S. President Donald Trump to attend a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, though the White House has not yet provided a response.

According to the Financial Times on Saturday, September 13, major disagreements over trade disputes and the flow of fentanyl remain obstacles to finalizing such a high-profile meeting.

The report, citing informed sources, suggested Trump and Xi may instead opt for a lower-profile encounter on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea this October.

Washington and Beijing continue to face tensions over tariffs, market access, and Beijing's role in fentanyl shipments to the United States, an issue U.S. officials call a national crisis.

These unresolved issues have complicated attempts to arrange a direct Trump–Xi summit in Beijing, raising doubts over whether the symbolic invitation will materialize into a concrete engagement.

Analysts note that while both governments have incentives to manage relations, neither side has shown willingness to compromise significantly on trade or fentanyl enforcement, keeping tensions high.

The possible meeting at the APEC summit may provide an opportunity for dialogue, but observers warn it would lack the weight of a full bilateral visit in Beijing.

Meanwhile, the uncertainty surrounding Trump's response underscores the fragile state of U.S.–China ties, where political optics, domestic pressures, and unresolved disputes continue to overshadow diplomatic outreach.

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