US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday evening to discuss the Iran war and other issues with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, according to White House officials.
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said an opening ceremony and meeting will take place on Thursday morning, with the trip concluding on Friday. The US regime plans to host the Chinese leader for a reciprocal visit later this year.
Kelly described the visit as having “tremendous symbolic significance,” focusing on “rebalancing the relationship with China and prioritizing reciprocity and fairness to restore American economic independence.”
The trip, originally scheduled for earlier this year but postponed in March due to the US-Israel war on Iran, comes as the US president struggles to contain the fallout from the conflict both domestically and internationally.
A senior administration official, speaking anonymously, said Trump could “apply pressure” to China on Iran, including on oil sales and Tehran’s purchase of potential dual-use military-civilian goods.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week accused 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.
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to US-Israeli attacks, restricting passage through a key global energy transport artery.
China has expressed a desire to see the war end and hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi last week. At the same time, Beijing has refused to recognize Washington’s “unilateral” sanctions on Iran’s oil sector.
Disruptions from the war have impacted the global economy, with Asian states dependent on Middle Eastern imports particularly hard hit.
Trump may also raise China’s support for Russia, trade issues, and rare earth minerals—a vital resource for the US tech sector. Business executives from Boeing and several agricultural companies are set to travel with the US delegation.
The anonymous official said no change is expected in the US stance on Taiwan, a major sticking point between Washington and Beijing. China considers the self-ruling island part of its territory, while the US has deep security and economic commitments there.
Source: www.aljazeera.com