BEIJING: U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in China on Wednesday for a high-profile summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking the first visit by an American president to Beijing in nearly a decade amid growing tensions over trade, Taiwan, and Iran.
Trump departed Washington on Tuesday, saying he expected extensive discussions with Xi on a range of global issues, particularly Iran, which continues to export large amounts of oil to China despite U.S. sanctions.
Speaking before leaving the White House, Trump said he believed the situation with Iran could be resolved peacefully but stressed that the United States would prevail regardless of the outcome. He also described Xi as “relatively good” in dealing with the issue.
The visit Trump’s first to China since 2017 includes two days of talks with Xi, alongside official events such as a state banquet and diplomatic receptions.
Taiwan is expected to be among the most sensitive topics during the summit. Trump recently indicated he would discuss U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan with Xi, a notable shift from Washington’s traditional position of handling military support for Taipei independently of Beijing.
Trade disputes are also likely to dominate discussions, particularly China’s restrictions on rare earth exports and ongoing tariff tensions between the world’s two largest economies. Although both countries agreed to a temporary tariff truce following their last meeting in South Korea, economic frictions remain unresolved.
Security in Beijing was visibly tightened ahead of the summit, with increased police presence across major roads and subway stations.
Trump is accompanied by several leading American business figures, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple chief Tim Cook, highlighting the economic significance of the trip.
The summit comes at a difficult moment for China’s economy, which is facing weak consumer demand and continued problems in the property sector.
Meanwhile, the conflict involving Iran has added another layer of strain to U.S.-China relations. Washington recently imposed sanctions on multiple individuals and companies, including entities in Hong Kong, accused of facilitating Iranian oil sales to China. Beijing strongly criticized the move, opposing what it called unilateral sanctions.
Trump also sought to reassure Taiwan over American support, saying his relationship with Xi would help prevent any military escalation involving the island.
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