Meeting marks at least the second in-person encounter between the top US diplomat and Wang
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shakes hands with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Munich, Germany, February 13, 2026, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. PHOTO: REUTERS
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, as Washington and Beijing prepare for a potential visit by President Donald Trump to China in April.
The meeting marked at least the second in-person encounter between the top US diplomat and Wang. Washington and Beijing have sought to ease tensions over issues, including trade, tariffs and the future of Taiwan.
Rubio and Wang shook hands and posed for cameras before the two delegations, flanked by their senior aides, sat opposite each other in a hotel conference room in central Munich. They made no remarks and ignored a shouted question from a Reuters reporter. The meeting lasted about an hour, according to a senior US official.
This month, Trump held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which the Republican president described as “very positive”.
Following months of trade tensions triggered by Trump’s tariffs, Xi and Trump reached a framework trade agreement in South Korea on October 30. Washington agreed not to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, and China would hold off on an export licensing regime for crucial rare earth minerals and magnets.
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In a goodwill gesture ahead of Trump’s expected visit to Beijing, Trump said after his phone call with Xi last week that Beijing would consider increasing soybean purchases from the US to 20 million metric tonnes in the current season, up from 12m tonnes previously
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Trump said on Truth Social that his relationship with Xi is “extremely good” and that “we both realise how important it is to keep it that way”.
An official Chinese government account said Xi had said, “I attach great importance to Sino-US relations.”
Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 10:38 AM EST 02.04.26
I have just completed an excellent telephone conversation with President Xi, of China. It was a long and thorough call, where many important subjects were discussed, including Trade, Military, the April trip that I will be…
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 4, 2026
However, the risk of bilateral ties souring persists over Taiwan. In his phone call with Trump, Xi said Taiwan was the most important issue in China-US relations, and Washington must handle arms sales to Taiwan with prudence.
In December, the Trump administration announced $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest-ever US weapons package for the island.
The US is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, despite a lack of formal diplomatic ties.
