Beijing: U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping commenced pivotal summit discussions in Beijing on Thursday, addressing trade, the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Taiwan, and technological competition as central topics.
According to Yonhap News Agency, before the talks at the Great Hall of the People, Trump was welcomed with a ceremonial handshake, national anthems by a military band, and an honor guard inspection. Young children greeted the leaders with flowers, alongside U.S. and Chinese flags. During his opening remarks, Trump expressed his honor in meeting Xi and optimism about improving U.S.-China relations.
Trump's three-day visit to China, the first since November 2017, comes amid stalled peace talks between the United States and Iran, particularly concerning the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The last face-to-face meeting between Trump and Xi was in Busan, South Korea, where they agreed on a one-year trade truce to lower tariffs and suspend additional trade restrictions.
Ahead of his China visit, Trump emphasized trade as a critical agenda item, aiming to secure economic achievements that could influence voter sentiment ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in November. He is expected to seek commitments from China to increase its purchases of U.S. agricultural products and Boeing aircraft.
The Middle East conflict remains a significant focus of the summit, with Trump seeking to exit the war with Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil and commodity shipping lane. China, concerned about potential disruptions, has been shifting to alternative energy sources and maintaining large oil stockpiles but faces economic risks from the conflict.
Other agenda topics include Taiwan's security, with China viewing it as part of its territory, and technological competition, particularly in artificial intelligence. Discussions may also touch on North Korea, as Trump has expressed interest in resuming diplomacy with Kim Jong-un, with China playing a key role in its relationship with Pyongyang.
Following the summit, Trump and Xi are expected to visit the Temple of Heaven park and attend a state banquet. On Friday, they will continue discussions over tea and a working luncheon before Trump returns to the United States. This summit marks the first in a series of potential bilateral talks between the leaders this year, including meetings at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen and the Group of 20 gathering in Florida.