U.S. President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday evening for high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the Iran war, trade, Taiwan and critical minerals expected to dominate the agenda.
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said Trump will attend an opening ceremony and meet Xi on Thursday morning, with the visit scheduled to conclude on Friday. The United States also plans to host Xi for a reciprocal visit later this year. Kelly described the trip as carrying “tremendous symbolic significance,” saying it would focus on rebalancing U.S.-China relations and promoting “reciprocity and fairness.”
The visit was initially expected earlier this year but was delayed after the U.S.-Israel war with Iran began in February. The conflict has complicated global trade and energy markets, particularly after Iran restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil shipments.
A senior U.S. administration official said Trump is expected to press Xi over China’s support for Iran, including Chinese purchases of Iranian oil and Tehran’s access to goods that could have both civilian and military uses. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently accused China of “funding” Iran by buying the bulk of its energy exports, saying Beijing should use its influence to help end the crisis.
China has said it wants the war to end and recently hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. However, Beijing has refused to recognize Washington’s unilateral sanctions on Iranian oil, creating a major point of friction before the summit.
Trade will also be central to the talks. U.S. officials have signalled that discussions could include rare earth minerals, aerospace deals involving Boeing, agricultural exports and proposals for new U.S.-China trade and investment mechanisms.
Trump may also raise China’s support for Russia, while Xi is expected to press Washington on Taiwan and U.S. export restrictions. A senior administration official said no change is expected in the U.S. position on Taiwan, one of the most sensitive issues in relations between the two countries.
The summit comes at a difficult moment for both leaders. Trump is under pressure to contain the fallout from the Iran war and stabilize global markets, while Xi is seeking to protect China’s energy access, trade interests and diplomatic influence.
Although expectations for a major breakthrough remain limited, the meeting could shape the next phase of U.S.-China relations at a time of overlapping economic, military and geopolitical tensions.
