• Trump says he is not seeking a summit with Xi Jinping.
• He may visit China only at Xi's invitation.
• Current U.S.-China trade talks are taking place in Stockholm.

U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly denied seeking a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping amidst ongoing trade negotiations. He stated, "The Fake News is reporting that I am SEEKING a ‘Summit’ with President Xi of China. This is not correct, I am not SEEKING anything!" Trump acknowledged, however, his willingness to visit China if invited by Xi, remarking, "I may go to China, but it would only be at the invitation of President Xi, which has been extended."

These statements come as a third round of U.S.-China trade talks is underway in Stockholm, where negotiators are seeking to lay the groundwork for future discussions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are leading the talks, aiming to potentially extend the current tariff truce as the August 12 deadline approaches. Expert opinions suggest that fruitful discussions could open paths for a future meeting between Trump and Xi.

Trump's remarks also come after news reports indicating discussions about a potential meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit later this year in South Korea. Both leaders last met face-to-face in 2019, and increasing trade tensions have characterized their interactions since then, with tariffs frequently at the forefront of their agendas.