BEIJING – President Trump landed in Beijing on Wednesday evening, gearing up for an important summit with Xi Jinping, where he aims to push China to be more receptive to U.S. businesses.
The President received a warm welcome from U.S. Ambassador to China, David Perdue, upon arriving at the Beijing Capital International Airport. He was joined by Han Zheng, a vice president, Xie Feng, the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, and Ma Zhaoxu, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs.
A military band performed as part of the reception, accompanied by an honor guard and 300 enthusiastic young people who sang and waved American and Chinese flags.
Clearly in good spirits about his arrival, President Trump was followed off the plane by family members and notable figures like Elon Musk, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Army Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
On Thursday, the President has a full agenda that includes visiting the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. He is set to meet with President Xi and enjoy a state dinner, with another meeting planned for Friday before heading back to Washington.
This visit marks the first time a U.S. President has visited China since 2017, although Trump and Xi briefly met at an APEC summit earlier this year in South Korea.
Trump mentioned to reporters that Xi is expected to visit the U.S. later this year.
The timing of this trip is significant, as both countries aim to address rising tensions. Under President Biden, the focus has shifted to “managed competition” between the two economic giants.
Last year, the U.S. imposed substantial tariffs on China, which changed frequently and even reached extreme levels at one point. Amid this, China retaliated with export restrictions on critical materials, while the U.S. limited sales of advanced technology that could enhance China’s capabilities in artificial intelligence.
While U.S. investment in China has significantly dropped, President Trump has often highlighted his strong relationship with Xi, noting some progress on trade discussions that could alleviate ongoing tensions.
Before coming to China, Trump pointed out the notable CEOs traveling with him, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook, among others.
He expressed on Truth Social his intent to ask Xi to “open up” China, believing it would benefit both nations. “This is something I will prioritize when we meet,” he promised, hoping for substantial progress.
Originally, this trip was slated for early April but was postponed due to complications arising from the ongoing war with Iran, where a fragile ceasefire has been maintained since early April.
There have been accusations from lawmakers like Senator Lindsey Graham alleging that China has been supporting Iran through various means. However, Trump seemed to downplay these concerns during his recent remarks.
On this trip, key topics also include discussions on artificial intelligence, nuclear arms, and human rights issues, notably the cases of Jimmy Lai and Ezra Jin, who have faced significant legal challenges in Hong Kong. Additionally, Xi is likely to press Trump to reduce U.S. backing for Taiwan, an ongoing point of contention in U.S.-China relations.
