US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold a high-stakes summit in China. It is going to be Trump's first state visit to Beijing since returning to office in January 2025.
The meeting comes at a critical juncture, with the war in Iran having seen repeated escalations over the past two weeks and the broader Middle East crisis continuing to intensify.
The two leaders are expected to focus primarily on trade, including efforts to lower ongoing tensions from the tariff war that resumed in June last year. While Trump is anticipated to announce several deals or agreements with Beijing, Xi is expected to approach the talks in a more cautious and measured manner.
Despite some underlying tensions between the two powers, the White House has insisted that preparations for the visit—scheduled from March 31 to April 2—are progressing smoothly, with regular high-level contacts maintained between the two capitals.
A White House official told reporters, "Unlike the autopen Biden administration that prized performance over outcomes, the Trump administration is very comfortable with trip planning, on both logistics and deliverables.
The president looks forward to his visit to China, where he and President Xi will discuss a range of topics of importance to the world's two largest economies.” Analysts, however, believe China is unlikely to play any mediating role in the Iran conflict, preferring to maintain strategic distance despite its substantial investments across the Middle East.
Instead, Xi is expected to use the summit to project an image of statesman-like stability—in sharp contrast to the turbulence associated with his US counterpart—while steering clear of direct involvement in the Iran crisis.
The visit is being closely watched globally, as any progress on trade could help stabilise markets amid the ongoing energy and geopolitical shocks emanating from West Asia.
Also read: Trump says US bombs Iran's Kharg Island military sites
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