United States President Donald Trump is expected to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday for high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the ongoing Iran conflict set to dominate discussions.
According to White House officials, the meeting between the two leaders will begin on Thursday morning and continue through Friday as Washington seeks stronger cooperation from Beijing over the worsening Middle East crisis.
A senior US administration official said President Trump may pressure China over its continued purchase of Iranian oil and alleged support for goods that could be used for both civilian and military purposes. The official claimed Washington believes Beijing’s trade with Tehran is helping Iran withstand international sanctions.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently accused China of indirectly financing Iran through large-scale oil imports, describing Tehran as a major sponsor of terrorism.
The visit comes amid growing global concern over the impact of the Iran war on energy supplies and international trade. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, causing economic pressure across Asia and beyond.
China has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict and recently hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing for diplomatic talks. However, Beijing continues to reject what it calls unilateral US sanctions on Iran’s energy sector.
Trade relations, rare earth minerals, Taiwan, and China’s ties with Russia are also expected to feature prominently during the Trump-Xi discussions.
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