President Trump to Discuss Iran with Chairman Xi Jinping During China Visit
Al Jazeera Staff
US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 8 to discuss the Iran war, with Washington expected to pressure Beijing to stop purchasing Iranian oil. The visit, originally planned earlier but postponed due to the conflict, aims to rebalance US-China relations.
US President Donald Trump will arrive in Beijing on the evening of May 7 (local time) for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the Iran war and other issues, according to a White House announcement.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said the official welcome and talks will take place on the morning of May 8, and the visit will conclude on May 9. The US plans to invite the Chinese leader for a return visit later this year.
Kelly described the trip as having “great symbolic significance,” focusing on “rebalancing the relationship with China, prioritizing reciprocity and fairness to restore US economic independence.”
The visit, originally scheduled for early this year but postponed in March because of the US-Israel war with Iran, comes as President Trump grapples with controlling the fallout from the conflict both at home and abroad.
According to an unnamed senior US administration official, Trump may “pressure” China over its purchases of Iranian oil as well as Tehran’s acquisition of potential dual-use military-civilian goods. Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused China of “financing” Iran.
“Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, and China buys 90 percent of its energy, so they are financing the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism,” Bessent said on Fox News.
Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz—a global energy shipping artery—in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks. China has called for an end to the war and last week hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while refusing to recognize Washington’s unilateral sanctions on Iran’s oil sector.
The war’s disruptions have severely affected Asian countries dependent on Middle East imports. Trump may also address China’s support for Russia, trade issues, and rare earth minerals—a critical resource for US technology industries. The US delegation includes leaders from Boeing and several agricultural companies.
The unnamed official said there is no change in the US stance on Taiwan, a key sticking point in Washington-Beijing relations. China considers the self-governing island its territory, while the US maintains extensive security and economic commitments to Taiwan.
