China has formally invited Donald Trump to Beijing for a summit with President Xi Jinping, but the White House has not yet responded as the countries are still far apart on trade issues and the flow of fentanyl.
Treasury secretary Scott Bessent will on Sunday meet Chinese vice-premier He Lifeng in Madrid for a fourth round of negotiations that some hope will pave the way for President Trump to visit Beijing just before the October 31 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in South Korea.
In recent days, two US cabinet officials — secretary of state Marco Rubio and defence secretary Pete Hegseth — have spoken to their Chinese counterparts, raising speculation about a meeting between the presidents.