Beijing: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday kicked off a three-day state visit to China amid the ongoing war in Iran. Trump was welcomed by a guard of honor after Air Force One landed at Beijing Capital International Airport, where he was received by Vice President Han Zheng. A military band and dozens of youths were also present at the airport to mark the occasion.
According to Anadolu Agency, this visit is the first by a sitting US president to China in nine years. Notably, during Trump's previous visit to China in 2017, he was received by then-State Councilor Yang Jiechi, indicating a higher-level reception this time. After arriving at 1150GMT, Trump has settled into his hotel with no official engagements until Thursday morning.
On Thursday, Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for summit-level talks at the Great Hall of the People. The agenda includes discussions on the Middle East conflict, Taiwan, trade, and tariffs. Trump intends to address arms sales to Taiwan and the imprisonment of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, while Beijing has stated that discussions will focus on "major issues concerning China-US relations, world peace and development."
Accompanying Trump are Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, along with CEOs from major US companies such as Nvidia, Tesla, Apple, and others. Trump's son Eric Trump and his wife, Lara Trump, are also part of the delegation, disembarking from the plane shortly after the President.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will join the delegation later, after holding trade talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in South Korea. First lady Melania Trump is absent from this trip, unlike 2017 when she accompanied the President.
The visit occurs amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, following US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, and subsequent retaliations. A ceasefire is currently in place, and China has been advocating for dialogue in the region, while the US accuses Beijing of bolstering Iran's military and economic capabilities.
Trump's trip, initially planned for March 31-April 2, was delayed due to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Relations between Washington and Beijing have further strained over tariffs, technology restrictions, and control over rare earth elements. The bilateral trade between the two nations was estimated at $414.7 billion in 2025.