Trump Arrives in China for US Presidential Visit

(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump is set to touch down in China for the first visit by a sitting American president in nearly a decade, with a sweeping agenda spanning the Middle East conflict, Taiwan, trade, tariffs, and advanced technology dominating the diplomatic calendar.

Trump was expected to land at Beijing Capital Airport on Wednesday before transferring to his hotel, accompanied by a high-powered delegation that includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Notably, Rubio — who also holds the role of acting national security advisor — was placed under Chinese sanctions in 2020 as a countermeasure to US sanctions over Hong Kong, though Beijing has since clarified those measures were tied specifically to his prior role as a US senator.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to join the presidential party in Beijing following separate trade negotiations with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in South Korea on Wednesday.

Summit at the Great Hall of the People
Trump is scheduled to arrive at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday at approximately 10:00 AM local time (0200 GMT) for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders are expected to meet no fewer than six times across Trump's Beijing engagements. Trump has signaled he intends to raise US arms sales to Taiwan and the detention of Hong Kong media magnate Jimmy Lai, while Beijing has stated the two leaders would discuss "major issues concerning China-US relations, world peace and development."

Xi will host a formal state banquet for Trump and his delegation on Thursday, followed by a bilateral tea session and a working lunch on Friday before the US president departs aboard Air Force One that afternoon.

Corporate America Joins the Delegation
A roster of prominent American business leaders will accompany Trump for discussions with the head of the world's second-largest economy. According to details shared by a US official, the group includes Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Boeing president and CEO Kelly Ortberg, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, and Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach.

A Historic First in Nine Years
The Beijing summit marks the first visit to China by a sitting US president since Trump's own trip in 2017. His successor, Joe Biden, broke with the tradition upheld by most of his predecessors, becoming one of only two US presidents to complete a full term without visiting China. Trump and Xi last met in October of last year on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan, South Korea.

Chinese State Media Sets the Stage
Hours after Beijing officially confirmed the dates for Trump's state visit on Monday, Chinese state media moved swiftly to frame the diplomatic moment, spotlighting past encounters between the leaders of the world's two largest economies — whose bilateral trade reached an estimated $414.7 billion in 2025. A state-run news agency drew attention to positive statements made by Xi on the China-US relationship, while also acknowledging persistent fault lines between the two powers, including the contentious issue of Taiwan.

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