US President Donald Trump received a grand ceremonial welcome in Beijing on Thursday as he began high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid growing global tensions over trade, Taiwan and the Middle East.
The two leaders met at the Great Hall of the People, where they walked together on a red carpet during a formal state ceremony featuring military guards, a brass band and children waving Chinese and American flags.
Trump’s first official visit to China since 2017 comes at a sensitive moment for both countries, with discussions expected to focus on maintaining a fragile trade truce, the Iran conflict, artificial intelligence cooperation and US arms sales to Taiwan.
The US president arrived in Beijing accompanied by several top business executives, including Elon Musk and Jensen Huang, as Washington pushes for greater access to Chinese markets and increased exports of American goods.
According to officials, Trump is expected to press Beijing to open its economy further to US industries, while China is likely to seek relief from American restrictions on semiconductor technology and chipmaking equipment exports.
Analysts say the geopolitical balance between Washington and Beijing has shifted significantly since Trump’s previous visit to China, with Beijing now holding stronger leverage amid economic and political challenges facing the US administration.
The two-day summit will include formal talks, a state banquet and cultural visits, including a tour of the Temple of Heaven.
Trade remains central to the discussions after both sides reached a temporary agreement last year that paused major tariff escalations and stabilised global supply chains for rare earth materials and industrial goods.
Beyond economic matters, Trump is also expected to urge China to pressure Iran toward negotiations with Washington to ease tensions in the Middle East. However, analysts believe Beijing is unlikely to distance itself from Tehran due to its strategic importance to China.
Another major issue expected to dominate the talks is Taiwan, with Beijing strongly opposing proposed US arms sales worth billions of dollars to the self-governed island.
China has repeatedly warned Washington against expanding military support for Taiwan, while the United States maintains that it is legally obligated to help Taiwan defend itself despite lacking formal diplomatic ties.
The summit is also seen as politically significant for Trump ahead of upcoming midterm elections, while Xi is expected to make a reciprocal visit to the United States later this year.
Also read: China, US to hold trade talks in South Korea next week
