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Former President Donald Trump has confirmed that he plans to visit the Chinese capital in the month of April and extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping for a official visit later next year, after a telephone conversation between the two officials.

Trump and Xi—who convened recently in the Republic of Korea—covered a variety of topics including economic relations, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the opioid crisis, and the Taiwan issue, as stated by the former president and Chinese officials.

"Our relationship with China is very robust!" Trump posted in a social media update.

China's state news agency issued a announcement that said both countries should "keep up the momentum, proceed in the correct path on the basis of equality, esteem and common gain".

Prior Engagement and Economic Agreements

The heads of state held discussions in Busan, South Korea in the fall, subsequently they agreed to a truce on trade taxes. The US decided to slash a 20% tariff by 50% intended to decrease the supply of the drug fentanyl.

Tariffs continue on products from China and are around close to half.

"Afterwards, the bilateral relations has largely sustained a consistent and favorable course, and this is greeted positively by the each side and the international community at large," the official comment said.

• America then pulled back a warning of 100% additional tariffs on products, while the Chinese government postponed its intention to implement its new set of rare earth export controls.

Focus on Trade

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the recent conversation with Xi—which took around 60 minutes—was centered on economic issues.

"We are satisfied with what we've observed from the China, and they feel the same way," she said.

Additional Issues

Along with addressing economic matters, Xi and Trump broached the issues of the Ukraine war and the island.

Xi stated to Trump that Taiwan's "return to China" is essential for Beijing's perspective for the "global system after conflicts".

China has been engaged in a foreign policy clash with Tokyo, a U.S. friend, over the longstanding "strategic ambiguity" on the sovereignty of the independently administered island.

Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi commented that any military action by China on the island could force a reaction by Tokyo's army.

Trump, though, did not discuss Taiwan in his online message about the conversation.

The U.S. representative in Japan, George Glass, had earlier stated that the U.S. government backs Tokyo in the context of China's "pressure".