As the heads of state of the world's two largest economies start their meetings in Beijing this week, trade experts and economists said they expected the summit to chart the course for the future of bilateral ties and help restore stability to global trade.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump will meet in Beijing, as Trump arrived on Wednesday for a three-day state visit to China.

China said on Monday that it was ready to work with the United States to expand cooperation, manage differences and inject more stability and certainty into a turbulent and changing world.

During a Port of Los Angeles media briefing on Monday, former US trade representative Katherine Tai described the meeting as "a really important moment for the US-China trade relationship".

Responding to a China Daily question on what is most needed to help reduce global uncertainty surrounding tariffs, supply chains and broader trade relations — including lower tariffs, clearer rules, or greater predictability — Tai, who served as the principal trade adviser and negotiator on US trade policy during the administration of former president Joe Biden, emphasized the importance of policy clarity and long-term planning.

"I think that what we need most — and I say 'we' in the real collective sense, because this relationship impacts everybody around the world — is some clarity around the principles that the United States wants to put out there and to enforce in the relationship with China," Tai said.

She said uncertainty in recent trade policies and market expectations has affected governments, businesses and global supply chains, adding that clearer communication and more consistent policy direction would help support long-term economic planning and cooperation.

Tai further noted that strategic pressure alone cannot sustain a functional trade relationship despite the fact that both nations have the capability to "choke" each other in strategic sectors.

"Once you have each other's attention, then you actually need to have an agenda and a plan in place for the short term, the medium term and the long term, for making this very important, complicated and challenged trade relationship work," Tai said.

Jerry Nickelsburg, director &senior economist at the UCLA Anderson Forecast, said the meeting between Chinese and US leaders could help provide a more stable environment even as longer-term shifts continue.

Despite recent adjustments in global trade flows, the interdependence of the two markets remains significant. China continues to serve as the third-largest export market for the United States, following Canada and Mexico, according to US trade figures.

"There seems to be an interest in preserving the stability of the current situation in US-China economic relations on both sides," Nickelsburg said.

Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, said that Chinese factories and exporters continue to operate steadily despite ongoing trade tensions.

Mitigating uncertainty

During recent visits to Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, Seroka noted that order volumes remained stable, even as China expanded its exports to other global trading partners to mitigate uncertainty.

Jim Sutter, CEO of the US Soybean Export Council, expressed hope that the meeting would reaffirm China's purchase of US agricultural goods, including soybeans, calling soybeans an "important indicator" of the strengthening ties between the two nations.

US industry leaders and local officials have echoed the call for cooperation.

Jeffery Jones, chairman of the Council for Trade and Investment Promotion in New Jersey, said that trade and business development should remain a priority.

"I'm a former mayor. On the political side of things, I don't have to go to the presidential level to say that from one town to another, municipal level, if we don't work together, nothing good happens," he added.

Daniel Mabey, Asia Region President for the United Natural Products Alliance, noted that because China is a major supply chain partner for numerous industries, it is essential that "dialogue continues and continues to move forward" to get the relationship back on a productive track.

"Most of the US-China relationship is based on trade and China is a big supply chain partner for a lot of industries, not just our industry," Mabey said.

"I used to live in Beijing for a long time … I have had lots of industry dialogue. We need to get the tracks straightened again and work together."