President Donald Trump will land in Beijing on Wednesday for a high-stakes, two-day summit with President Xi Jinping beginning Thursday morning. This marks the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade. Originally delayed from March due to the war in Iran, the meeting provides the leaders of the world's two largest economies an opportunity to reset personal ties and seek common ground.
Trade discussions are expected to be a priority for President Trump, who is seeking a foreign policy win. Experts suggest the two leaders may announce trade deals, including Chinese purchases of Boeing aircraft or U.S. agricultural products, as the two nations continue to engage in a fierce trade war. While both countries emphasize stable ties, analysts indicate that President Xi may hold the upper hand on trade issues.
The ongoing war in Iran and frictions over Taiwan are also expected to be central to the agenda. Although Trump has downplayed the attention the Iran war will receive, the conflict has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the superpower relationship. The White House has set low expectations regarding persuading China to change its posture on Iran, as the U.S. has been unsuccessfully pressing China to prod Iran to agree to American terms.