US President Donald Trump will visit Beijing on May 14–15 to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking his first trip to China in eight years. The visit, repeatedly delayed due to the ongoing Iran war, is closely watched as a key moment in managing US-China relations.
Trump had originally planned to travel next week, but postponed the trip to focus on the Middle East conflict. In a Truth Social post, he confirmed that Xi would later visit Washington for a reciprocal meeting. “Our Representatives are finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits,” Trump said.
The two-day trip will include ceremonial events and high-level diplomacy. The leaders are expected to discuss trade issues such as agriculture and airplane parts, as well as sensitive matters like Taiwan. Trump’s increased US arms sales to Taiwan have drawn criticism from Beijing, which urged Washington to approach the issue with “extreme caution.”
The timing of the Iran war adds uncertainty to the summit. Trump has sought support from major oil consumers, including China, to counter Tehran’s attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz, but Beijing has not responded directly. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Xi understood the reasons for delaying the visit, emphasizing that Trump needed to remain in the US during combat operations.
This will be the first in-person meeting between Trump and Xi since October, when the leaders agreed on a trade truce during talks in South Korea. Analysts say the May summit will test both leaders’ ability to combine ceremonial diplomacy with high-stakes negotiations on security, trade, and regional stability.
