US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in China on a three-day visit to meet Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, beginning Wednesday. The talks will take place on Thursday and Friday. This will be the first visit by a sitting US president to China since Trump's 2017 trip during his earlier term.
Trump and Xi are expected to hold their seventh face-to-face meeting, with the last one taking place in October 2025 in Busan, South Korea.
According to a White House official, several prominent US executives have been invited to join Trump during the visit, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg.
Key Issues on the Agenda
Middle East Conflict
Discussions on the ongoing US-Iran conflict are expected to figure in the talks, with China seen as a key but cautious stakeholder in the region. Beijing has criticised US and Israeli actions while maintaining close ties with Iran. The US is also expected to raise China's regional influence and role in stabilisation efforts.
Taiwan
Taiwan is expected to remain a major flashpoint in the talks amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing. The US maintains strong unofficial ties with Taiwan and is legally committed to ensuring its self-defence, while continuing its policy of strategic ambiguity.
Trade and Business Ties
Trade relations are expected to feature prominently as both countries look at extending the current tariff truce. The US-China trade war, triggered by steep tariffs, was temporarily eased after both sides agreed that prolonged economic restrictions were unsustainable.
According to Reuters, China may announce new commitments related to Boeing aircraft purchases, agricultural imports, and energy deals. Proposals for a "Board of Trade" and "Board of Investment" may also be discussed, though implementation would require further negotiations.
AI and Technology
Artificial Intelligence and technology controls are expected to be a key focus area. US officials have raised concern over China's rapid AI development and are seeking clearer communication channels to avoid potential escalation. An extension of the critical minerals and rare earths agreement is also under consideration, given its importance to global supply chains.
Nuclear Weapons
Nuclear arms control and military communication mechanisms are also expected to be discussed. However, China has shown little interest in formal talks, with officials indicating that Beijing is not currently willing to engage in nuclear arms reduction discussions.
The Trump-Xi meeting is being closely watched globally as the world's two largest economies attempt to manage tensions across trade, security, and technology.
