Key facts
- US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have prioritized their personal relationship in managing bilateral ties.
- The US executive branch has historically held significant authority over foreign policy, with Trump concentrating this power.
- There are indications of a shift towards more traditional foreign policy channels.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have appeared to prioritize their personal relationship in managing the relationship between their two countries. This approach has been a characteristic of the Trump administration, where the US executive branch has concentrated foreign policy authority in the hands of the President. However, there are indications that this dynamic may be shifting, with a move towards more traditional foreign policy channels.