China’s top envoy to US hails safeguards from head-of-state diplomacy, as Beijing rolls out severe penalties for non-pharma fentanyl crimes
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenWilliam ZhengPublished: 6:35pm, 23 Sep 2026China’s ambassador to the United States has hailed President Xi Jinping’s coming state visit as a “historic milestone” for bilateral and international relations.Xie Feng’s remarks came just as Beijing unveiled stringent new regulations on fentanyl, in a clear move to build diplomatic momentum ahead of the Xi-Trump summit in Washington.Under the strategic guidance of both leaders, the “giant ship” of China-US relations would continue to “break waves and sail ahead” along a trajectory of “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation”, Xie told state news agency Xinhua. The interview was published on Wednesday, hours before Xi’s scheduled departure for the US.
Xi to get presidential airport welcome from Trump during US visit starting WednesdayThe two leaders had maintained “frequent, candid, and strategic communication on major global issues”, Xie said, noting that Xi’s trip would be the second such top-level exchange in just over four months, following Trump’s state visit in May.
Head-of-state diplomacy provided “an important strategic safeguard for maintaining the overall dynamic stability of China-US relations amid turbulent winds and rough seas”, Xie said.
