US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat down with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on July 22 in Manila, Philippines, to lay the groundwork for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States in September. The talks, held on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meetings, were described as constructive by Rubio, with both sides focused on creating a favorable environment for the summit.
What actually happened in Manila
The two officials spoke by phone on June 30 to maintain open communication channels, and this face-to-face session in Manila was designed to move the needle on specific deliverables ahead of Xi’s September arrival.
Rubio’s focus centered on advancing trade and investment mechanisms, including potential bilateral trade boards and cooperative economic frameworks. US-China tensions over trade disputes and South China Sea security issues continue to simmer. US President Donald Trump has acknowledged the planned summit while continuing to address friction points with Beijing.
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