Xi

The trip had been announced by the White House after a postponement in late March. Donald Trump had cited the war with Iran as the reason for this delay. This will be the first visit by a US president to China since Donald Trump’s visit in 2017. Joe Biden did not make the trip during his four years in office.

###Commercial and Diplomatic Stakes Bilateral trade relations are expected to dominate the discussions, after a year marked by tariff disputes and multiple trade restrictions. Before the summit, trade negotiators from both countries, led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, are set to meet in Seoul. Xi Jinping and Donald Trump had reached a temporary truce in October.

Beyond trade, the crisis in the Middle East, with its global implications and repercussions for China, is expected to feature prominently in the discussions. “China intends to work with the United States on an equal footing, in a spirit of respect and mutual concern, to develop cooperation, manage differences, and bring more stability and certainty to an unstable and interdependent world,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun. However, as a sign that cooperation will not be easy, Washington announced on Monday evening that it was sanctioning twelve individuals and entities linked to Tehran for allegedly “facilitating” the sale of Iranian oil to China.

According to Donald Trump, the issue of US arms sales to Taiwan will also be on the agenda for discussions with Xi Jinping, as the Chinese president strongly opposes such transactions.

###Effects of the Middle East War The Asian giant is directly affected by the US-Iranian standoff and the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz. China is a crucial economic and political partner of Iran and remains its primary importer of oil. More than half of China’s seaborne crude oil imports from the Middle East pass through the strait, according to the analysis firm Kpler. With a heavy reliance on international trade, China is starting to feel the effects of the war.

Experts believe that Xi Jinping goes into the summit in a relatively strong position compared to a Donald Trump embroiled in the Middle East conflict and under pressure from the mid-term elections in November. They note that China gains several benefits from the crisis in its rivalry with the US, such as presenting itself to the world as a reliable partner respectful of international law and, according to official discourse, “on the right side of history.” Analysts, however, qualify this assessment, pointing out that China, with its heavy dependence on international trade, does not desire a protracted situation in the Gulf.

###Managing International Sanctions Beijing has tempered its criticism of the US and expressed support for Iran since the war began in late February. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun simply stated on Monday that Beijing would continue to play a “positive” role in crisis resolution efforts. The US State Department had announced on Friday sanctions against three Chinese-based companies, accusing them of providing satellite images used by Iran in its hostilities against the US.