US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold high-stakes talks in Beijing on Thursday, with key issues including Iran, trade, and Taiwan expected to dominate discussions between the world’s two largest economies.
Xi is expected to welcome Trump with full state honours at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, where the two leaders will meet before attending a state banquet later in the evening. Trump is also scheduled to visit the historic Temple of Heaven during the two-day trip.
The US president arrived in Beijing on Wednesday aboard Air Force One alongside leading American business figures, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla chief Elon Musk, highlighting Washington’s focus on securing new business and trade opportunities.
Trump and Xi are also expected to hold additional meetings on Friday before the US leader returns to Washington. The visit marks the first trip to China by a US president in nearly a decade since Trump’s previous visit in 2017.
Trade tensions are expected to be a major focus after years of tariff disputes between Washington and Beijing. Both sides are reportedly considering extending the tariff truce agreed upon during their last summit in South Korea in October.
Taiwan, rare earth exports, artificial intelligence competition, and the ongoing conflict involving Iran are also expected to feature heavily in discussions. Trump has indicated he plans to raise US arms sales to Taiwan, while also discussing Iran’s oil trade with China.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, both leaders are expected to seek areas of cooperation while attempting to stabilise the increasingly strained relationship between Beijing and Washington. Trump is also reportedly hoping to secure plans for a future visit by Xi to the United States later in 2026.