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China confirmed on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump will make a state visit to Beijing from Wednesday, May 13, to Friday, May 15, as announced by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hours earlier, the White House principal press deputy, Anna Kelly, had announced that Trump would arrive in the Chinese capital on Wednesday night in what she described as a "visit of significant symbolic meaning."
It will be the first time in almost nine years that a U.S. president sets foot on Chinese soil. The last visit was also made by Trump, in November 2017 during his first term.
On that trip, Beijing showcased an imperial choreography with a private visit to the Forbidden City, a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, and a performance of traditional opera.
The agenda for the summit is outlined by the White House. On Thursday the 14th, Trump will attend a welcoming ceremony and hold a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping, followed by a banquet.
On Friday the 15th, before returning to the United States, both leaders will hold what Washington has described as a "working lunch."
Kelly explained that Trump and Xi Jinping will discuss agreements in the aerospace, agricultural, and energy sectors, including potential Chinese purchases of Boeing airplanes and agricultural products.
Both governments are also working on the creation of a Trade Board to "manage the trade of non-sensitive products" and a bilateral investment forum.
As a prelude to the summit, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will travel to South Korea on Tuesday and Wednesday to meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a final round of trade negotiations.
The geopolitical backdrop is one of maximum tension. Trump arrives in Beijing pressured by the strain of the war with Iran and the judicial chaos threatening his tariff policy. Xi Jinping, despite his internal economic issues, holds a stronger international position.
One of the central themes will be precisely Iran. Trump himself revealed in an interview with Fox Business that both leaders exchanged letters regarding possible Chinese support for Tehran, describing Xi's response as "beautiful" and assuring that China was not sending weapons to Iran.
Now, according to U.S. media, Trump will pressure China to curb that support, which Washington suspects is being funneled indirectly through third countries, a claim that Beijing denies.
The United States has sanctioned Chinese companies and refineries linked to the purchase of Iranian oil and has even intercepted vessels involved in that trade.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz drove the price of Brent crude from 67 to over 126 dollars per barrel, which the International Energy Agency described as "the most severe energy supply crisis in history."
Taiwan will also be on the table. The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, stated that the island poses "the greatest risk" to bilateral relations, and Beijing hopes to receive some sign of moderation from Washington.
The U.S. maintains technological controls to hinder China's development in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, while China leverages its dominance over critical minerals as a tool for strategic pressure.
The last face-to-face meeting between the two leaders took place in October 2025 in Busan, South Korea, where they agreed to a trade truce that eased tensions but did not resolve the structural conflict between the two powers.
The White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, described the upcoming meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping as "transcendental" and "monumental."
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