By Ginika Igboke
U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to depart Washington on Tuesday afternoon for China, where he will meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a major diplomatic summit.
The May 13–15 visit marks the first U.S. presidential trip to China since Trump’s 2017 state visit during his first term in office.
Trade is expected to dominate discussions between the two leaders, although several contentious issues—including the Iran conflict, human rights concerns, and Taiwan—are also expected to feature prominently during the talks.
Trump Expresses Confidence Ahead of Visit
Hours before leaving for Beijing, Trump struck an optimistic tone during an interview on WABC Radio with host Sid Rosenberg.
“I think it’s going to be good,” Trump said during the “Sid & Friends in the Morning” program.
“China is strong, but we’re stronger than China. We’re stronger than any other country militarily.”
Packed Diplomatic Schedule in Beijing
Trump is expected to arrive in Beijing on the evening of May 13.
According to the planned itinerary, Trump and Xi will hold a bilateral meeting on the morning of May 14 following an official welcome ceremony.
Later that day, the two leaders are expected to tour the Temple of Heaven before attending a formal state banquet in the evening.
On May 15, Trump is scheduled to meet Xi again for a working lunch and tea session before departing China.
Strait of Hormuz, Iran Conflict Expected to Feature Prominently
Trump is expected to urge Beijing to support U.S. efforts aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which has faced severe disruptions during the conflict involving Iran and the United States.
Washington recently imposed sanctions on Hengli, one of China’s largest independent oil refiners, along with three Chinese companies accused of supplying satellite imagery to Iran during the war.
Beijing has so far not publicly supported U.S. calls regarding the shipping crisis.
Taiwan Remains Key Point of Tension
Taiwan is also expected to be a major issue during the summit.
The White House has indicated there will be no shift in U.S. policy regarding Taiwan, despite ongoing objections from Beijing over American arms sales to the island.
“I’ll have that discussion,” Trump told reporters on May 11 when asked about Taiwan.
“He will bring up Taiwan, I think, more than I will,” the president added, referring to Xi.
Human Rights Issues Likely to Be Raised
Human rights concerns are also expected to be discussed during the meetings.
Trump said on May 11 that he intends to raise the cases of Jimmy Lai and Ezra Jin Mingri with Xi.
Lai, a longtime critic of the Chinese Communist Party, has been imprisoned in Hong Kong for more than five years under Beijing’s national security law.
Chinese authorities arrested Jin in 2025 over his Christian activities and his leadership role at Zion Church.
Business Leaders Join Delegation
Trump is also bringing a large delegation of American business executives representing industries including technology, agriculture, aerospace, and finance.
Among the executives expected to join the trip are Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Kelly Ortberg, Larry Fink, Stephen Schwarzman, Brian Sikes, and Jane Fraser.
According to a senior administration official, the United States is seeking purchase commitments from Beijing worth tens of billions of dollars during the summit discussions.
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