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U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a three-day state visit to China. He will hold summit-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid trade tensions, the ongoing war with Iran, and disputes over Taiwan, technology, and tariffs.
Trump landed at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Air Force One at 11:50 a.m. GMT, beginning the first visit to China by a sitting U.S. president in nine years. The U.S. president was expected to head to his hotel after arriving in Beijing.
Xi will host Trump on Thursday for talks at the Great Hall of the People, where the two leaders are expected to discuss major issues in U.S.-China relations and global affairs.
The summit comes as the war in Iran continues to shape international diplomacy. Trump had earlier delayed the visit from March because of the conflict in the Middle East.
As he left the White House, Trump said he expected a “long talk” with Xi about the joint U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. China is the largest buyer of Iran's U.S.-sanctioned oil.
Trump downplayed disagreements over the issue, telling reporters that “I don't think we need any help with Iran” from China and that Xi had been “relatively good” on the topic.
Taiwan, trade and tariffs are also expected to be high on the agenda.
Trump earlier said he would raise the issue of arms sales to Taiwan, as well as the case of imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, during the meeting.
Beijing has said the two leaders would discuss “major issues concerning China-U.S. relations, world peace and development.”
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday it “welcomes” Trump’s visit and that “China stands ready to work with the United States... to expand cooperation and manage differences.”
Trump is accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Several major U.S. business leaders also joined the visit, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Huang boarded the presidential plane at the last minute in Alaska, while Musk also traveled on Air Force One.
The visit comes as the global artificial intelligence race intensifies. China is currently banned from purchasing cutting-edge chips produced by Nvidia under U.S. export rules that Washington says are aimed at protecting national security.
Trump said in a social media post during the trip that he would ask Xi to “open up” China so that U.S. business leaders could “work their magic.”
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.
Trump and Xi are scheduled to hold talks at 10 a.m. local time, or 02:00 a.m. GMT, on Thursday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two leaders are also expected to attend a state banquet on Thursday evening.
On Friday, Trump and Xi are set to have tea and a working lunch before the U.S. president returns home.
The trip marks Trump’s first visit to China since 2017 during his first term.
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