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China is set to host U.S. President Donald Trump for the first visit by a sitting American president in nearly nine years, with the Middle East conflict, Taiwan, trade, tariffs and high technology expected to dominate the agenda.
Trump is scheduled to arrive at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Wednesday, from where he will head to his hotel ahead of formal talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are among the senior officials accompanying Trump.
Rubio, who also serves as acting national security adviser, was sanctioned by China in 2020 in response to U.S. sanctions related to Hong Kong, though Beijing has since clarified the measures were linked to his role as a senator at the time.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is also expected to join Trump in Beijing after holding trade talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in South Korea on Wednesday.
According to the summit schedule, Trump is set to arrive at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Thursday morning for formal meetings with Xi.
The U.S. president previously said he intends to raise the issue of American arms sales to Taiwan as well as the case of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai.
Beijing, meanwhile, said the leaders would discuss “major issues concerning China-U.S. relations, world peace and development.”
The two leaders are expected to meet at least six times during Trump’s stay in Beijing.
Several major U.S. corporate executives are also accompanying Trump to China, according to a list shared by a U.S. official.
Among them are Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach.
Xi is expected to host a state banquet for Trump and the U.S. delegation on Thursday evening.
The Chinese leader will also host Trump for a bilateral tea gathering before a working lunch on Friday, after which the U.S. president is expected to depart aboard Air Force One.
The summit marks the first visit to China by a sitting U.S. president since Trump’s previous trip in 2017 during his first term.
Former President Joe Biden did not visit China during his presidency, becoming one of the few American presidents not to make the trip while in office.
Trump and Xi last met in person during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan, South Korea, in October last year.
Following Beijing’s confirmation of the visit earlier this week, Chinese state media began highlighting previous meetings between the two leaders and emphasizing the importance of bilateral ties.
Trade between the world’s two largest economies totaled an estimated $414.7 billion in 2025.
Trump said he would urge Xi to “open up” China further to American companies during the visit.
“I will be asking President Xi, a leader of extraordinary distinction, to ‘open up’ China so that these brilliant people can work their magic, and help bring the People’s Republic to an even higher level,” Trump wrote on social media before departing Washington.
The Middle East conflict is also expected to be a major topic during the summit.
Trump told reporters before departure that he expected a “long talk” with Xi regarding Iran, though he downplayed disagreements between Washington and Beijing.
“I think we’ll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi,” Trump said, referring to concerns over Taiwan and broader geopolitical tensions.
The visit comes as China faces mounting economic challenges, including sluggish domestic demand and an ongoing property sector crisis, while relations between Washington and Beijing remain strained over tariffs, technology restrictions and Taiwan.
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