US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a crucial summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, bringing along a delegation of leading business executives as Washington and Beijing seek to steady relations between the world’s two biggest economies amid the escalating Iran conflict.
Trump reached the Chinese capital accompanied by several prominent figures, including Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, in a bid to secure commercial agreements and reduce tensions affecting trade, technology and global supply chains.
The US President was welcomed by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng along with senior officials, including US Ambassador to China David Perdue, Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng, and China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu.
The reception in Beijing was carefully planned and included a military honour guard, a military band and nearly 300 Chinese youths dressed in matching blue-and-white uniforms waving Chinese flags along the runway. Xi Jinping is expected to formally receive Trump during a state ceremony scheduled for Thursday morning local time.
The visit marks the first by a sitting US President to China in nearly ten years and comes at a politically sensitive time for Trump, who is facing economic challenges domestically and increasing scrutiny over the impact of the Iran conflict ahead of November’s midterm elections.
IRAN, TRADE AND AI TO LEAD DISCUSSIONS
Before departing Washington, Trump indicated that the US would not depend on China for assistance in resolving tensions with Tehran or addressing Iran’s growing influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route.
“I don't think we need any help with Iran. We'll win it one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise,” Trump told reporters before leaving.
Despite that stance, the Iran conflict is expected to dominate discussions during the summit, alongside trade disputes, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and export controls on advanced semiconductor technology. Trump said he intends to urge Xi to further open China’s market to American businesses, particularly technology companies seeking greater access.
The presence of Jensen Huang has drawn attention in both Washington and Beijing. Nvidia has faced challenges obtaining approval to sell its advanced H200 AI chips in China amid tighter US export restrictions and intensifying global competition in artificial intelligence.
According to Reuters, Trump requested Huang join the trip at the last moment. The Nvidia chief executive was later seen boarding Air Force One during a refuelling stop in Alaska.
“I will be asking President Xi, a leader of extraordinary distinction, to ‘open up’ China so that these brilliant people can work their magic,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
TRADE AND TAIWAN CONTINUE TO BE KEY FLASHPOINTS
Ahead of Trump’s ceremonial welcome in Beijing, US Treasury Secretary and chief trade negotiator Scott Bessent held three hours of preparatory discussions with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng at South Korea’s Incheon airport. China’s state-run Xinhua news agency described the talks as “candid, in-depth and constructive.”
The discussions largely focused on maintaining the fragile trade truce reached last October, when Trump paused steep tariffs on Chinese imports and Beijing eased restrictions on rare earth exports essential to sectors such as electric vehicles and defence manufacturing.
US officials said Washington is aiming to increase exports of Boeing aircraft, agricultural products and energy supplies to China, while also working towards new agreements on trade and artificial intelligence cooperation. Beijing, meanwhile, continues to seek relaxed US restrictions on chipmaking equipment and advanced semiconductor exports.
