Xi Jinping Suggests Increased Direct Flights to Boost US-China Trade
- Reports
- 3
- Developments
- 3
- Repetition
- 0%
New informationRepeats or wire copies
What happened
During a White House arrival ceremony, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that the two countries 'may also increase direct flights to facilitate two-way travel and trade.' The announcement came during high-level talks between leaders, including Donald Trump, who were scheduled to discuss trade and technology issues. Xi noted that the number of direct flights between the U.S. and China had fallen since the COVID-19 pandemic and had not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
Why it matters
The suggestion of more direct flights addresses a gap between current capacity and passenger demand. Analysts noted that passenger demand existed for more than the current 50 weekly round-trip flights allowed from each side, though US carriers expressed reservations about adding new routes without assurances regarding airspace.
High-level talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are scheduled for September to discuss trade, technology, and security issues.
From scmp.com
Who's involved
- Donald TrumpParticipated in high-level talks with Xi Jinping regarding trade issues.
How this reaches others
Each traced step by step, with the reporting behind itHow it developed
Newest first. Tap a step to see who reported it.Announcement made regarding increased direct flights to boost trade.1 source
Leaders discussed increasing direct flights and trade, while Trump challenged media access.1 source
Trump challenged media access while Xi proposed increasing direct flights for trade during talks.1 source
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Part of
High-level talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are scheduled for September to discuss trade, technology, and security issues.Also in this story
- Trump and Xi's economic and trade teams held new consultations on September 25, 2026, to steer the China-U.S. relationship.
- US and Chinese leaders held high-level talks, pausing trade war agreements, discussing AI, and addressing rare earth needs.
- Leaders, including Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, met on September 23rd to discuss bilateral relations and geopolitical issues.
- Donald Trump hosted Xi Jinping for a state visit at Joint Base Andrews, accompanied by Peng Liyuan, amid Wicker's criticism.
The entities involved
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Donald Trump
American businessman and politician (born 1946), President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Related events
- Trump sought to bar CNN and Politico journalists from access while Xi Jinping's Air China aircraft was present.
- Xi Jinping's state visit to the US coincided with Trump's administration implementing bans and protocols regarding media coverage of political events.
- Trump and Xi resumed talks, highlighting China's aviation market needs and the competition between Boeing and domestic maker Comac.
- Air China facilitated a high-level diplomatic visit involving Donald Trump.
- While in the US, Donald Trump discussed international matters, including the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit hosted in China, and the arrival of new Boeing aircraft.