Trump expected to ‘apply pressure’ on Xi Jinping over Iran during China visit: Officials
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump is set to land in Beijing on Wednesday, May 13, for a hotly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a high-stakes summit that could reshape the balance of global power and redefine the future of US-China relations.
The visit will mark the first trip by a sitting US president to China in nearly a decade. The last visit was also made by Trump, during his first term, in 2017.
The leaders of the world's two largest economies will hold talks to stabilize ties strained by trade, the US and Israeli war with Iran, and other areas of disagreement.
Highlighting the key points of the summit, Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told reporters on a call that Trump's visit would focus on "rebalancing the relationship with China and prioritizing reciprocity and fairness to restore American economic independence."
"This will be a visit of tremendous symbolic significance. But of course, President Trump never travels for symbolism alone. The American people can expect the president to deliver more good deals on behalf of our country,” she added.
Trump to push Beijing for help
As Trump seeks a near-term breakthrough in the brutal 10-week conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, he will also seek to push Tehran's ally, Beijing, to help.
When asked whether Trump would pressure Xi over Iran, a senior administration official told France 24, on condition of anonymity, that they “would expect the president to apply pressure” on the issue.
The official further said Trump had repeatedly raised concerns in conversations with Xi Jinping over China’s financial ties to Iran and Russia through oil purchases, as well as Beijing’s exports of dual-use goods with both civilian and military applications.
"I expect that conversation to continue," the official added.
The official added that recent US sanctions imposed on China over the Iran conflict are expected to be part of the discussions.
Washington and Beijing are also preparing to negotiate an extension of the year-long trade truce agreed upon by Trump and Xi Jinping last October in South Korea, though tensions continue to simmer over Trump’s broad tariff policies.
China accused of aiding Iran amid the war
Trump’s visit to China comes on the heels of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accusing China of “funding” Iran.
“Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, and China has been buying 90 percent of their energy, so they are funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism,” Bessent told Fox News last week.
Iran moved to shut the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, choking one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes.
While China has publicly called for an end to the war and welcomed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi last week, Beijing has continued to reject what it describes as Washington’s “unilateral” sanctions targeting Iran’s oil industry.
