China and the United States are approaching the "final stage" ofnegotiationsAs part of a state visit to Beijing by US President Donald Trump, significant acquisitions of American products are a key component of the outcomes, according to information obtained by the South China Morning Post.
The emergence follows the fourth round oftrade talksbetween the two factions in Spain and ahead of a telephone conversation between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.
Trump characterized the discussions in Madrid as a success, with both parties establishing a framework agreement regarding the widely used Chinese social media application.TikTok. They also discussed critical minerals and fentanyl, among other matters, the Post was informed.
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The attention is now turning to a possible high-tension journey by Trump to China. Should it take place, it would mark the first visit by a U.S. president to the Asian nation since 2017.
Two individuals who are directly involved in the discussions stated that "considerable advancement" had been achieved, with both parties working on finalizing the specifics.
"Some minor loose ends remain. However, the main issues have been addressed. Progress is being made," said a source who chose not to be identified because of the confidential nature of the discussions.
"A new agreement to acquire American products could be part of the outcomes," the source mentioned, further stating thatBoeing aircraftwere "highly probable" on the list.
A source verified that China extended an official state visit invitation to Trump during the first week of September, which typically suggests that the state visit is "basically confirmed" and that preparations are at a "very advanced level."
"The official invitation is akin to the sound of a starting pistol in a 100-metre race, with the finish line in view," the source mentioned.
There is significant political determination from both parties to bring it to fruition. Both sides aim to showcase this major diplomatic occasion as a significant achievement for their local constituents.
Another report mentioned that in addition to visiting Beijing, the Chinese side has suggested that Trump experience China's high-speed rail network to a second city – likely Shanghai – as part of his visit.
Beijing views the high-speed rail as a significant national achievement, highlighting the nation's economic and technological advancements. The fastest train completes the 1,300km (808-mile) trip from Beijing to Shanghai in four hours.
The eighth annual China International Import ExpoThe CIIE will take place in Shanghai from November 5 to 7. In 2019, the event was inaugurated by Xi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
It is recognized that the US party has been thoroughly examining the Chinese suggestion, considering that the trip might be "too demanding" for Trump, who is 79 years old. Additionally, there are concerns that the visit could be interpreted as a gesture of compromise towards Beijing.
"Ultimately, President Trump has the final decision on his destinations and activities in China. He appears to be very enthusiastic about the trip personally, but he also needs to consider his team's advice," one source mentioned.
Trump's trip to China could pave the way for Xi to return the visit to the US next year, according to sources.
Both sources indicated that the journey is expected to take place "around the Apec summit," which is set to occur in South Korea from October 31 to November 1.
The Post has discovered that the US has advocated for Beijing to purchase American products as a major outcome that might be revealed during Trump's visit.
A leading American aviation company, Boeing, is reportedly discussing with China about selling 500 commercial aircraft to the world's second-largest aviation market. Should this transaction take place, it would mark the first significant acquisition of Boeing planes by China since the end of Trump's presidency.
American soybean sales to China remain a key priority for the US. In 2024, China sourced roughly 20 per cent of its soybeans from the US, as reported by Reuters, marking a 41 per cent drop from the volume in 2016, according to customs statistics.
In the initial seven months of this year, China purchased 42.3 million tonnes of soybeans from Brazil, whereas it acquired just 16.6 million tonnes from the United States.
Both parties have had a hectic week of diplomatic activities, including discussions between their defense ministers and senior diplomats.
Last Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a telephone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who emphasized the importance of handling disagreements and fostering stable relations.
The call came after a video conference the previous day, during which US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth informed Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun that Washington had no intention of changing Beijing's government or "strangling" it.
More from the South China Morning Post:
- China and the US agree on a 'framework' regarding TikTok; Xi and Trump to hold talks on Friday
- China's bullet train network approaches 50,000km mark – yet debt and profitability issues increase
- Chinese and American trade teams begin the fourth round of discussions in Madrid.
- Chinese representative criticizes the Trump administration for undermining institutions and violating conventions
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