As he departed the White House, Trump said he expected a “long talk” with Xi about Iran, which sells most of its US-sanctioned oil to China.
But he also downplayed disagreements, 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.
The Chinese foreign ministry said Wednesday it “welcomes” Trump’s visit and that “China stands ready to work with the United States ... to expand cooperation and manage differences”.
Yet Beijing is growing impatient for peace, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi urging his Pakistani counterpart on Tuesday to step up mediation efforts between Iran and the United States.
‘Big deal’
This week’s trip - the first since Trump visited Beijing in 2017 - will involve highly anticipated talks with Xi on Thursday and Friday, as well as lavish pomp and ceremony.
The packed itinerary includes a state banquet in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People and a tea reception.
Trump said Monday he would speak to Xi about US arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governing democracy claimed by China - a departure from historic US insistence that it will not consult Beijing on its support to the island.
China’s controls on rare earth exports, AI rivalry and the countries’ raucous trade relationship are also among the topics expected to be taken up by the heads of the world’s top two economies.
The two sides are set to discuss extending a one-year truce in their tariff war, which Trump and Xi reached during their last meeting in South Korea in October.
The tense build-up to the superpower summit was already visible on the streets of Beijing, with police monitoring major intersections and checking the ID cards of passengers on the metro, AFP journalists saw.
“It’s definitely a big deal,” said Wen Wen, a 24-year-old woman travelling from the eastern city of Nanjing, when asked by AFP about Trump’s visit.
“Some progress will certainly be made,” she said, noting that she hopes China and the United States can ensure “lasting peace” despite “recent instability in the global situation”.
‘Very good relationship’
The United States and China have long sought to stabilise their relationship despite increasingly seeing each other as adversaries in trade and geopolitics.
Trump has repeatedly touted a strong personal relationship with Xi, which he insisted on Monday would prevent a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing.
“I think we’ll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi. He knows I don’t want that to happen,” he said.
Trump’s trip will be closely scrutinised by Taiwan and Asian allies for any sign of weakening US support.
Beijing has grown more confident and assertive since Trump’s 2017 trip and the US President finds himself in a weakened position as he seeks a way out of his Iran war.
But the summit also comes at an uncertain time for China’s economy, which has struggled in recent years with sluggish domestic spending and a protracted debt crisis in the once-booming property sector.
- AFP
