Trump Says He Will Ask Xi to Open China as Leaders Meet in Beijing

President Donald Trump begins first China visit in nine years

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to hold a summit in Beijing on May 14. Trump arrived in China for a two-night, three-day state visit at Xi’s invitation.

The two leaders are scheduled to attend an official welcome ceremony at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People at 10 a.m. before moving directly into talks. They will later tour the Temple of Heaven and attend a state banquet in the evening.

The meeting comes about six months after Trump and Xi last met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Busan in October last year.

Iran is also set to feature in the talks. Leaving the White House in Washington on May 12 for the trip, Trump said he expected to have a long conversation with Xi about Iran.

Washington is also seeking tangible progress on trade. Asked by reporters about the main goal of his China visit, Trump said he would discuss a wide range of issues with Xi, but that trade would be the top priority.

In a Truth Social post aboard Air Force One on the way to Beijing, Trump underscored that focus. He wrote that he would ask Xi to open China, signaling again that the talks are centered on expanding market access to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China.

Taiwan is also expected to come up, with Beijing likely to raise the issue. At a pre-departure briefing on May 11, a senior White House official said U.S. policy toward Taiwan was not expected to change.

On May 15, the final day of Trump’s visit, the two leaders are scheduled to continue talks in a small tea meeting and at a lunch meeting. Trump will then return to the U.S. after wrapping up his two-night, three-day trip.

Choi Su-jin, Hankyung.com reporter, naive@hankyung.com