China, US Foreign Ministers Hold Positive Call
Wang Yi and Marco Rubio spoke as Xi Jinping and Donald Trump prepare to meet at the APEC leaders' meeting in Shenzhen.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in International Relations
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China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday, which Xinhua described as positive and constructive. Beijing said it is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with Washington.
Why it matters
Wang Yi said the current stability in China-US relations has not come easily and called it a rational choice based on respective and shared interests. The exchange comes ahead of an expected meeting between the two countries' presidents.
The call took place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, roughly one week before the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen. The Xinhua readout does not specify any agreements or disputed issues discussed.
The players
Wang Yi
Wang Yi is China's Foreign Minister and a senior figure in the country's diplomatic leadership, having long handled its relations with Washington.
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio is the US Secretary of State, a former Republican senator from Florida who has been a prominent voice on US foreign policy and China.
Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping is the President of China and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, who has led the country since 2012.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the President of the United States, who has pursued a trade and strategic competition agenda with China during his terms.
The details
Xinhua reported that Wang Yi and Marco Rubio held the call and characterized it as positive and constructive. Beijing said it wants to strengthen communication and cooperation with Washington, with Wang Yi framing the current stability in relations as a product of mutual interests.
Timeline
Wednesday, November 11, 2026: Wang Yi and Marco Rubio hold a call.
Roughly one week later: APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen, where Xi Jinping and Donald Trump are expected to meet.
Political Context
The call continues a pattern of diplomatic engagement between Beijing and Washington similar to the 2017 Mar-a-Lago summit between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, which set the tone for their first term's trade talks. Both sides are now preparing for another in-person meeting, suggesting a continued effort to manage the relationship through direct leader and minister channels.
For readers following US-China trade and security issues, the call signals that both governments are keeping diplomatic channels open before a leaders' summit. The practical outcomes of the APEC meeting will shape near-term expectations for tariffs and cooperation.
The takeaway
Diplomatic readouts from both capitals will matter more than the call itself, since the APEC meeting is where any concrete commitments would likely surface. Watch for specifics on trade, Taiwan, and technology in the days before the summit.
What happens next
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump are expected to meet at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen roughly one week after this call.
Further reading
For broader context on how these bilateral channels have evolved, see the International Relations section.
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