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| 2026-05-13 20:53:10
Trump-China-arrival
Trump arrives in Beijing for summit talks with Xi on trade, Iran, Taiwan, other topics
By Song Sang-ho
BEIJING, May 13 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a much-anticipated summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the leaders are expected to discuss an array of knotty issues, including trade, the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and Taiwan.
Trump landed at an airport in the Chinese capital for a three-day visit, marking his first trip to China since November 2017. His trip proceeded despite deadlocked peace talks between the United States and Iran on ending the Middle East war and reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
His entourage includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to join later following his talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in South Korea earlier Wednesday as part of preparations for the high-stakes summit.
Before departing from Washington on Tuesday, Trump expressed optimism for the planned summit with Xi, saying that his China trip will be an "exciting" one, and that "a lot of good things" will happen. He also said trade would top the agenda.
"We're going to have a very good meeting. I spoke with President Xi ... We both look forward to the meeting. It's going to be great," he told reporters.
Following a pomp-filled welcoming ceremony, Trump and Xi will kick off their meeting at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday morning, with the international community closely watching the summit between the superpowers for its security and economic implications.
On the economic front, they are expected to discuss efforts to create a "board of trade," a mechanism that would enable the world's two largest economies to manage trade across non-sensitive goods. They will also talk about forming a "board of investment," a forum on discrete investment issues.
As Trump has always pursued in his summitry with foreign leaders, Xi could announce China's renewed commitments to purchase American farm products, such as soybeans and beef, as well as Boeing aircraft.
Taiwan is expected to be high on the agenda. Observers anticipate that Xi would reiterate China's firm position on the self-governing democracy, which it regards as part of its territory, while questions linger over whether Trump would embrace a shift in U.S. policy on Taiwan.
Speculation arose that the Trump administration could shift U.S. policy language to "opposing" Taiwan's independence from simply "not supporting" it. But a senior U.S. official has made clear that there has been no policy change on this matter.
The ongoing war on Iran could figure prominently at the Trump-Xi meeting, as Washington wants Beijing not to provide any military or financial support for Tehran, and to pressure it to make a peace deal with the U.S. amid the growing fragility of the ceasefire between the two countries.
Trump could touch on China's possible transfer of dual-use goods and components, as well as the potential for weapons exports to both Iran and Russia, according to officials.
However, he told reporters Tuesday that he does not think the U.S. needs any help from China, reiterating that Iran has been "defeated militarily."
North Korea could also be brought up given that Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to resume diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un though it remains unclear whether Pyongyang is interested in reengagement with Washington.
On Thursday evening, Trump and Xi will attend a state banquet. The following day, Trump will have tea and a working lunch with Xi before wrapping up his China trip.
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