By Peter Omopo
September 11, 2025 — Recent high-level talks between the United States and China have been described as “a small step” toward a potential meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, though experts warn it is too soon to expect an imminent summit.
The last face-to-face meeting between the two leaders took place in 2019, and while tensions have persisted over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and tariffs, relations have cooled slightly since April when both sides eased a tariff standoff. Trump and Xi last spoke by phone in June, and Trump has said he expects to visit China later this year or shortly afterwards, citing improved economic ties.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, stressing Washington’s desire for “constructive and open dialogue.” Wang described the talks as “fruitful” but warned that recent US actions had undermined China’s rights and interests.
In a separate video call, China’s defence minister cautioned US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth that attempts to “contain, deter, or interfere with China will be futile,” according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Analysts say the discussions are encouraging but not decisive.
“This is a positive small step, but there are many more steps to take,” said Dylan Loh, associate professor at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.
Chong Ja Ian, political science professor at the National University of Singapore, noted the conversations “could pave the way for a Trump-Xi meeting” but cautioned against certainty: “The president is known to make and change decisions quickly, so it may be premature to predict a summit.”
The talks came shortly after Xi presided over a major World War II commemoration parade attended by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un—a gathering Trump accused of plotting against the United States.
Experts also said Beijing is unlikely to confirm any summit without a carefully negotiated agenda.
“China’s political system does not allow surprises during such meetings,” said Lim Tai Wei, an East Asia expert at Japan’s Soka University.
Speculation continues that a Xi-Trump meeting could happen on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, scheduled for late October to early November. But as NTU’s Loh warned, “given the rapid changes internally and externally, you never really quite know.”
