China confirmed on Monday that Donald Trump will be making a state visit from Wednesday to Friday, during which he is expected to meet with leader Xi Jinping and discuss Iran and trade disputes. This will be the first visit of a US president to China since 2017.
“At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America will make a state visit to China from May 13 to 15,” the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
China had previously refrained from confirming the dates of the Republican billionaire’s visit, as is common practice for official visits, especially due to the uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East.
The White House had initially announced the president’s visit to China for late March-early April. However, Donald Trump postponed it to mid-May, stating that he wanted to prioritize managing the Iranian crisis.
The visit comes amid numerous bilateral differences, including US restrictions on technology exports to China, tariffs, Taiwan, and the South China Sea.
Donald Trump’s visit to China occurs amidst heightened tensions around Iran, with the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz weighing on the global economy and energy prices. Trade, tariffs, and artificial intelligence will be on the agenda for discussions during the visit from Wednesday to Friday, according to the White House.
Donald Trump will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday evening, as confirmed by Anna Kelly, deputy spokesperson for the US executive, to the press.
A welcoming ceremony and bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping will be held on Thursday morning, followed by a visit to the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon and a state banquet in the evening.
The two presidents will then have breakfast together and a working lunch on Friday, before Donald Trump returns to Washington.
This visit will be an opportunity for the Republican to “rebalance the relationship with China and prioritize reciprocity and fairness to restore American economic independence,” said Anna Kelly. It will be a visit of significant symbolic importance that will also allow for the conclusion of “good agreements,” she assured.
