Top U.S., Chinese officials hold talks ahead of planned Trump-Xi summit

▲ This file photo, released by the Associated Press, shows U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) shaking hands with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 13, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

▲ This file photo, released by the Associated Press, shows U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent (L) shaking hands with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng during a bilateral meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 10, 2025. (Yonhap)

US-China talks

Top U.S., Chinese officials hold talks ahead of planned Trump-Xi summit

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, April 30 (Yonhap) -- Top diplomatic and economic officials of the United States and China held online talks on Thursday, as part of preparations for a summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping set to take place in Beijing next month.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had separate conversations with their respective counterparts, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice Premier He Lifeng, as the Trump-Xi summit is slated to occur on May 14 and 15.

The talks came amid speculation that the high-stakes summit could be delayed once again as peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran have stalled amid an impasse over issues surrounding the vital Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program.

If held, the summit is expected to touch on a series of bilateral, regional and global issues, including bilateral trade, the security of Taiwan and the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

During a phone call with Rubio, Wang said that the "Taiwan question" involves China's "core" interests and constitutes the "biggest risk" in relations between the United States and China, according to China's Xinhua News Agency.

"The U.S. side should honor its commitments and make the right choices, opening new space for China-U.S. cooperation and doing its part to promote world peace," Wang was quoted by the agency as saying.

Rubio said that the U.S.-China relationship is the "most important" bilateral relationship in the world, and that leader-to-leader diplomacy is at the core of the relationship, according to the report.

Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held a video call.

In a social media post, Bessent said that he had a "candid and comprehensive" call with the Chinese vice premier to discuss Trump's upcoming trip to China.

"I stressed that China's recent provocative extraterritorial regulations have a chilling effect on global supply chains," Bessent wrote on X. "I look forward to a productive summit between President Trump and President Xi in Beijing."

Xinhua reported that Bessent and He discussed a range of issues, including addressing their respective concerns in the economic and trade sector and expanding pragmatic cooperation.

The Chinese side expressed "solemn" concern over recent U.S. restrictive steps against China in the economic and trade sectors, it said.

Both sides agreed to continue making full use of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism to build consensus, manage differences and enhance cooperation, the agency said.

The talks reflected a complex Sino-U.S. relationship that has become increasingly tense on multiple fronts, including maritime security, technology and trade.

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