Donald Trump said he plans to urge Xi Jinping to open China’s economy further to American companies as he arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a high-stakes summit expected to focus on trade, Taiwan and the Iran conflict.
In a social media post after leaving Washington, Trump praised Xi and said he wanted China to allow US firms greater access to its markets.
“I will be asking President Xi, a Leader of extraordinary distinction, to ‘open up’ China so that these brilliant people can work their magic,” Trump wrote.
The president travelled to China alongside several major American business leaders. Jensen Huang boarded Air Force One during a stop in Alaska, while Elon Musk also joined the trip. Other executives expected in Beijing include Tim Cook.
The visit marks the first by a US president to China since Trump’s 2017 trip and comes as both nations attempt to stabilise relations despite growing tensions over trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and military influence in Asia.
Trump told reporters before departing the White House that he expected a “long talk” with Xi regarding Iran, particularly because China remains a major buyer of Iranian oil despite US sanctions.
However, he downplayed major disagreements with Beijing on the issue.
“I don’t think we need any help with Iran,” Trump said, adding that Xi had been “relatively good” regarding the conflict.
China’s foreign ministry welcomed the visit, saying Beijing was ready to cooperate with Washington while also managing differences between the two powers.
The summit is expected to include discussions on extending a temporary tariff truce reached between the two leaders during their previous meeting in South Korea last October.
Other major issues likely to dominate talks include China’s rare earth export controls, AI competition between the two countries and US arms sales to Taiwan.
Trump said earlier this week that he planned to discuss Taiwan directly with Xi — a notable shift from traditional US policy, which has usually avoided consulting Beijing on support for the self-governing island.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly warned against foreign support for the island.
The visit comes at a delicate time for both countries. Trump faces growing scrutiny over the Iran war and regional instability, while China continues to deal with weak domestic spending and a prolonged property sector debt crisis.
Security was visibly tightened across Beijing ahead of the summit, with police monitoring intersections and checking identification cards at metro stations.
Despite tensions, some Chinese citizens expressed cautious optimism about the meeting.
“It’s definitely a big deal,” said Wen Wen, a traveller from Nanjing, who said she hoped both countries could help ensure “lasting peace” despite recent global instability.
Trump has repeatedly pointed to his personal relationship with Xi as a stabilising factor in US-China relations. Speaking on Monday, he said he believed the relationship could help prevent conflict over Taiwan.
“I think we’ll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi,” Trump said.
