BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) — China-U.S. relations are once again approaching a pivotal moment that has drawn keen global attention, as Chinese President Xi Jinping travels to the United States at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Xi’s state visit comes just months after Trump’s China trip in May. The exchange of visits between the two heads of state within six months is of historic and milestone significance.

It would be unrealistic to expect a single meeting to resolve all the problems in China-U.S. relations, but the upcoming Xi-Trump summit itself is a key step forward, providing both sides with a crucial opportunity to make 2026 a historic year that opens a new chapter in China-U.S. relations.

During their last meeting in May, the two heads of state agreed to build a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability. The consensus charts a clear course for bilateral ties at a time when the two major countries in the world are seeking a right way for them to get along.

This time, the two sides can build on that vital mutual understanding and steer the giant ship of China-U.S. ties toward a steady course in the years ahead.

Despite Washington’s protectionist trade policy against China in recent years, economic and trade cooperation remains a major pillar for the development of the relationship between the world’s top two economies.

A Tesla Cybercab is seen at the booth of Tesla at the Automobile and Smart Mobility exhibition area of the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Cai Xiangxin)

At present, more than 7,000 Chinese enterprises operate in the United States, and U.S. companies have established more than 84,000 enterprises in China. Two-way trade and investment have provided strong support for millions of jobs in the United States.

Even as some U.S. politicians clamor for « decoupling from China, » a survey of its members conducted this year by the U.S.-China Business Council found that 95 percent of U.S. respondents described their China operations as « somewhat to very important » to maintaining global competitiveness. The presence of prominent business leaders in Trump’s delegation on his May trip to China likewise spoke volumes about their eagerness to seize the opportunities created by China’s development.

Differences and frictions are inevitable between two major economies, but they can be addressed through consultations on an equal footing. Since 2025, China and the United States have held multiple rounds of economic and trade talks. Through dialogue based on equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, the two sides have made progress in stabilizing economic and trade relations.

The lesson is hard to ignore: both sides have far more to gain by looking at the bigger picture and keeping their long-term interests in view. Turning trade and economic ties into instruments of political or security maneuvering does not make either side safer or stronger; it merely fractures supply chains, distorts markets and ultimately drives up costs for businesses and consumers.

A visitor (L) looks at products at a Chinese company’s booth during MAGIC, a major U.S. trade show for apparel, footwear and accessories, in Las Vegas, the United States, Aug. 10, 2026. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

Moreover, keeping dialogue open and expanding practical cooperation, by contrast, can provide greater certainty for the two economies and the wider global community.

A more stable China-U.S. relationship does not mean the absence of competition. When competition does happen, it must be a healthy one where both sides learn from each other, pursue excellence together, and compete fairly in compliance with rules.

Apart from managing their competition, Washington needs to join Beijing in adhering to another fundamental principle to prevent the giant ship of China-U.S. relations from capsizing: respecting each other’s core interests and major concerns, particularly the Taiwan question, the most important issue in China-U.S. relations.

Safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is the biggest common denominator between China and the United States. If the Taiwan question is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.

Washington must match its stated commitment to the one-China policy with concrete actions, and respect Beijing’s four red lines concerning the Taiwan question, democracy and human rights, China’s path and system, and China’s development right.

China, as it pursues national rejuvenation, will never seek hegemony, nor will it give up its legitimate rights and interests. No one should expect China to accept outcomes that come at the expense of its own interests.

A stable China-U.S. relationship also rests on strong ties between the two peoples. It underscores the need for stronger people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Fans of Chinese video game « Black Myth: Wukong » pose for a photo in downtown Los Angeles, California, the United States on July 7, 2026. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

In 2023 in San Francisco, Xi proposed inviting 50,000 young Americans to China over five years for exchange and study. The target has been reached this year ahead of schedule.

The recent reunion in China of retired American teacher Ronald Sakolsky and his Chinese friend Yin Yuzhen rekindled their friendship and renewed a shared commitment to planting trees and combating desertification. This is just one of countless examples showing that friendship and cooperation between China and the United States remain the shared aspiration of the two peoples.

Looking back, the history of China-U.S. relations is replete with examples of the two countries working together in the face of common challenges.

From jointly fighting terrorism, responding to the global financial crisis, combating Ebola to addressing climate change, China and the United States have repeatedly shown that coordination and cooperation between the two countries can serve both their own interests and those of the wider world.

For China and the United States, keeping the world’s most important bilateral relationship on a steady course is more about themselves: it is about whether the two major countries can work together to bring greater stability and hope to a turbulent world. ■

Selon plusieurs sources, l’attaque a été perpétrée par les sécessionnistes ambazoniens.

Des soldats camerounais tombés au front. Actu Cameroun apprend de bonne source que ce mercredi 23 septembre 2023, entre 6h30 et 7h, les séparatistes ambazoniens ont perpétré une attaque au village Matouké au lieu-dit Matouké New-Lay-Out. Le village est la frontière avec la région du Sud-Ouest.

Trois soldats sont morts sur le coup. Ils sont issus du détachement du 23e Bataillon d’infanterie motorisée (BIM) avec pour poste de commandement la ville de Loum. L’incident malheureux est survenu alors qu’ils menaient une patrouille de routine sur l’axe Matouké-Kotto.

Il s’agit notamment du sergent Ateba Olanguena Come, du caporal-chef Betkemo Banibou Maxime et du soldat de première classe Abienza Joseph.

Les sources informent que les assaillants sont venus de la région du Sud-ouest, par le fleuve Moungo. Sur le coup, ils ont également emporté trois armes de type M21S ainsi que douze boîtes de chargeurs garnies.

«À la suite de l’incident, des opérations de ratissage ont été engagées par les éléments restants du détachement, avec l’appui Des éléments de la Task Force du sous-groupement Delta du 23e BIM, venus en appui, a permis de procéder à plusieurs arrestations des suspects qui sont en exploitation», apprend-on.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) — « When we sent the letter, it honestly felt like a shot in the dark, » said Kiana Haywood, a senior student at Central Michigan University. « I didn’t know if President Xi would actually read it, let alone take the time to respond to us. »

Haywood was among nearly 100 students from 10 U.S. universities who recently wrote to Chinese President Xi Jinping after participating in the Future Makers 2026 China-U.S. Youth Tour for a Shared Asia-Pacific Future and other exchange events in China.

And a reply did arrive on the eve of Xi’s state visit to the United States.

In his letter, Xi welcomed the students’ appreciation for Chinese civilization, their hope for friendly cooperation between China and the United States, and their willingness to act as envoys of friendship bridging the Pacific Ocean.

Noting that young people from both countries share the same planet Earth and jointly shoulder the mission of the times, Xi urged them to advance China-U.S. friendly cooperation, foster mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples, and contribute the vitality of youth to building a better world.

Xi has long maintained correspondence with American friends — from Iowa acquaintances he first met in 1985 to veterans of the historic Flying Tigers who fought alongside China in World War II.

The exchange of letters also extends to a younger generation, as Xi replied in February, 2024 to students from Muscatine High School who had previously visited China and sent them Chinese New Year cards.

This growing connection is rooted in Xi’s consistent championing of youth exchanges as a vital bridge between the two nations.

During his 2023 trip to San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting, Xi announced an initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs over the next five years. By May this year, that goal had been reached two and a half years ahead of schedule.

« There are obviously much bigger conversations happening between our two countries, » Haywood said, but the exchanges gave the students « the opportunity to meet each other, ask questions and actually experience one another’s cultures instead of only hearing about them from far away. »

Xi’s reply letter reminded her that « relationships between countries are also built through relationships between people, » she said.

Reflecting on her trip, she noted that while China’s long history, rich culture and advanced technology have impressed her greatly, « the people left the biggest impression. »

« We could ask each other questions, laugh together and realize how much we have in common, » she said.

« I want to keep the friendships I made in China, share my experience with other students at Central Michigan University, » she said, expressing hope that more U.S. students will have opportunities to visit China so that the personal connections will give them a « completely different perspective. »

Similarly, Marlon Forrester, an associate in Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, also participated in the 2026 China-U.S. Youth Tour. He noted that true affinity requires proximity.

« Mutual understanding and affinity between two people can only happen when we share space together, » Forrester said, adding that participating students will become « ambassadors for this work through the direct partnerships with institutional and privately funded sources that can benefit their exploratory research in policy, science, humanities and the arts with our peers across the Pacific Ocean. »

« As young people from different countries sharing the same planet, they have a responsibility to respect cultural differences, promote understanding, and work together to address global challenges, » he said.

« Their mission is to use creativity, innovation, and collaboration to create a more just, sustainable and peaceful world. By learning from one another, caring for the environment, and contributing positively to their communities, they can help build a future that benefits people across borders and generations, » Forrester said.

For Haywood, living out that grand mission can start with something small.

« To me, being an ‘envoy of friendship’ can start with something as simple as listening to each other and being willing to learn, » she said. ■