President Trump is set to engage in a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday morning, local time, according to a statement by Leavitt. Following the crucial talks, Trump will head back to the United States.

In recent weeks, Trump has oscillated from threatening retaliatory tariffs and other measures against China to expressing optimism about the potential for a trade agreement. This shift reflects the intricate dance of international negotiations where economic interests and diplomatic relations often intersect.

Amid these discussions, tensions between Washington and Beijing have been further strained over the issue of fentanyl. The U.S. has accused China of not adequately controlling the flow of precursor chemicals for fentanyl, a potent opioid responsible for a significant number of overdose deaths in America. Meanwhile, China has staunchly defended its efforts in drug control and has criticized the U.S. for allegedly using the fentanyl crisis as leverage in diplomatic negotiations.