Trump-Xi summit nears as China-US talks in Munich set stage for Beijing visit

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met U.S.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Munich, a diplomatic move widely seen as part of the runway toward the Trump-Xi summit and the next phase of engagement between Beijing and Washington.

According to China’s state media, Wang urged both sides to treat 2026 as an opportunity to strengthen mutual respect, arguing that equality and reciprocity can help address each party’s concerns while managing disputes in a practical way.

The meeting comes as both capitals prepare for President Donald Trump’s expected trip to Beijing in April, where the Trump-Xi summit would bring Trump together with President Xi Jinping amid a packed agenda spanning trade and broader geopolitical frictions.

The two leaders also held a recent phone call covering commercial issues and key flashpoints, including Taiwan, as officials weigh how to keep channels open while differences persist.

Some analysts suggested the Munich encounter may have been facilitated by timing and proximity, yet it still supports the broader objective of maintaining momentum ahead of the Trump-Xi summit, with additional trade discussions likely before April.

In parallel, senior U.S.

officials have indicated they discussed logistical arrangements for an upcoming high-level trade meeting, a development markets often interpret as a sign of steadier bilateral engagement.

Financial markets have been watching for clearer signals of coordination, and renewed dialogue has helped support the Chinese yuan, which has posted gains this month in offshore trading as investors assess the outlook for China-U.S.

relations.