Beijing has officially announced the date for President Donald Trump’s state visit this week, marking the first trip by a US president to China since 2017. The visit, which was previously postponed due to the Iran war, comes despite ongoing tensions surrounding that conflict.
During the meeting with President Xi Jinping, Trump is expected to press China over its approach to Iran. Senior US officials state that Trump is eager to move on from the conflict, which has strained the global economy and sapped his domestic power. Specifically, he is expected to ask President Xi to pressure Iran into making concessions to end the current limbo and to lean on Tehran to reopen the strait.
A primary point of contention will likely be China's purchase of Iranian oil during the war. Trump has raised concerns multiple times in calls with Xi regarding Chinese revenue for Iran and Russia through oil sales. However, Beijing's deep economic ties to Iran and trade tensions over tariff threats could give President Xi leverage, and China's appetite to act as a pressure mechanism remains unclear.
Known for avoiding lengthy travel, President Trump is expected to spend only parts of three days on Chinese soil.