Financial Times of the UK: Trump will hold a summit with Chinese leaders, marking a critical turning point in China-U.S. relations.

The Financial Times reported on September 20 that U.S. President Trump stated he would meet with Chinese leaders in South Korea in October and travel to China for a summit early next year. This marks the first meeting between the two leaders since 2019, bringing new opportunities for the strained China-U.S. relations.

Call between China and U.S. leaders: TikTok agreement and bilateral summit plans surface

On September 19, after a call between the leaders of China and the United States, Trump posted on Truth Social that they had approved an agreement allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States. Last year, the U.S. Congress passed a law requiring TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to divest the app to avoid a nationwide ban.

Trump wrote: "I also agreed with the Chinese leader that we will meet at the APEC summit in South Korea, and I will visit China early next year." He also added that the Chinese leader would visit the United States "at an appropriate time."

He stated that the call was "very productive." This is the second call between the leaders of the two countries since Trump returned to the White House in January.

The Chinese side's response is cautious but positive

China's official media Xinhua reported that the call was "productive," but did not confirm that the leaders of the two countries had reached an agreement on TikTok, only mentioning that "both teams are negotiating to properly resolve the TikTok issue."

Trump stated that both sides have made progress on a series of issues, including trade, fentanyl, and the necessity of ending the war in Ukraine.

Preparation for the China-U.S. Summit: From APEC to the Beijing Trip

The Financial Times reported last week that China has officially invited Trump to meet with Chinese leaders in Beijing, but due to significant differences between the two sides in negotiating the trade war and combating fentanyl components, the White House has not yet responded.

A person familiar with the talks in Washington and Beijing said that U.S. officials have been urging Trump to meet with Chinese leaders at the APEC summit on October 31, rather than visiting China this year. The last time the two met was at the 2019 Osaka G20 summit.

Businesses and officials around the world have been closely watching whether the leaders of China and the United States will meet to address the trade war that caused market turmoil earlier this year. Washington imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese goods, while Beijing retaliated with a 125% tariff on American imports, after which both sides agreed to suspend such measures.

TikTok Agreement: China and the U.S. Reach a Framework Consensus

Four days before Trump commented on TikTok, Chinese and American officials held talks in Madrid. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that a "framework" agreement regarding TikTok was reached during the talks, and the Chinese and American leaders will discuss the agreement in a call.

Last year, the U.S. Congress passed a bill requiring TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations for national security reasons, and TikTok subsequently faced a nationwide ban in the United States.

Trump said last week: "I like TikTok, it helped me get elected."

After the call between the two leaders, China's ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, posted on X that Chinese leaders have told Trump that Beijing's position on TikTok is "clear." Xie Feng stated, "The Chinese government respects the wishes of the relevant companies." He also added that China "welcomes both sides to reach a solution that complies with Chinese laws and regulations through effective business negotiations that conform to market rules."

Xie Feng stated that Chinese leaders have also made it clear that the United States "needs to provide an open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese investors."

Last week, Trump delivered a speech in the Oval Office, reiterating that the leaders of the two countries had "approved" the TikTok deal, but then hinted that the transaction with American investors was not yet finalized.

As China-US relations enter a new stage, global market and political observers will closely monitor the preparations and outcomes of these two summits, which could have far-reaching effects on the global economy and geopolitical landscape.