WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is set to travel to China next week for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, even as the ongoing Iran conflict threatens to overshadow efforts to stabilise ties between the world’s two largest economies, according to reports.
Trump is expected to receive a formal and elaborate welcome during the visit, which had earlier been postponed in March due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The summit, scheduled for May 14–15, will be Trump’s second face-to-face meeting with Xi following their talks in South Korea last year. The visit is primarily aimed at easing trade tensions and addressing broader geopolitical disputes.
Trump has said he expects to discuss the Iran situation with Xi, describing the Chinese leader as “very respectful” on the issue. He has also suggested that Xi may offer him a “big, fat hug” during the visit, underscoring the personal tone he often adopts in diplomacy.
However, analysts say the Iran war is likely to dominate discussions and complicate negotiations.
Edgard Kagan of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said Iran remains a critical issue for Washington, adding that Beijing is closely watching developments.
The summit comes at a sensitive moment, with Trump seeking progress toward ending the conflict before arriving in Beijing. Observers say China could use Washington’s pressure points to push for concessions on trade and strategic issues.
Despite limited preparation time and uncertainty over concrete outcomes, the meeting is expected to focus on trade stability, artificial intelligence cooperation, critical minerals, and fentanyl-related concerns. US media reports suggest that senior executives from major companies, including Apple, Exxon, Nvidia, and Boeing, may be invited as part of a broader business engagement agenda.
A possible extension of the fragile trade truce agreed last year in South Korea is also seen as a key objective for Beijing.
The US-China Business Council has warned that the existing truce appears increasingly fragile amid renewed geopolitical tensions.
Experts say China will likely seek stability in an unpredictable global environment while carefully managing its position on the Iran conflict, particularly given its ties with Tehran.
Patricia Kim of the Brookings Institution said Beijing could leverage Trump’s political vulnerabilities, noting that the US president is seeking a diplomatic win amid rising global pressures.
Analysts also suggest China may emphasise diplomatic courtesy and symbolic gestures during the visit, while seeking to avoid direct entanglement in the Iran war and maintaining strategic flexibility.
