Trump arrives in Beijing for Xi summit on Iran, trade and Taiwan

Wednesday, May 13, 2026Developing

Politics Desk

What we know

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday evening local time for a high-stakes state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first by a U.S. president since Trump's 2017 trip, AP, BBC, CBS, CNN and the Guardian reported.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Ambassador Xie Feng, Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and U.S. Ambassador David Perdue greeted Trump after Air Force One landed at Beijing Capital International Airport. A military honor guard, band and about 300 youths waved Chinese and U.S. flags on a red carpet. Bilateral talks, a Great Hall welcome and a state banquet are set for Thursday; Trump leaves Friday after Zhongnanhai sessions. Agenda items include trade and tariffs, the Iran war and Hormuz, Taiwan arms sales, AI chips and a possible three-way nuclear framework with Russia.

What's confirmed

AP: Trump landed Wednesday for talks on Iran, trade and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan; Han Zheng led the airport welcome; substantive Xi bilaterals start Thursday (AP).
BBC: Trade, Iran and Taiwan on the agenda as Trump descends Air Force One to pomp and pageantry; trip postponed from March because of the Iran war (BBC).
CBS: Arrival amid Iran war and economic pressure; Musk, Nvidia's Jensen Huang and other CEOs traveled with the delegation (CBS).
CNN: Live arrival coverage confirmed the Beijing landing and Thursday start of two-day Xi talks (CNN).
Guardian: First U.S. presidential visit to China in nearly a decade; Han Zheng greeted Trump as Iran war loomed over the summit (Guardian).

What's still developing

Whether Thursday Great Hall talks produce concrete deliverables on Hormuz, tariffs or Taiwan arms.
Any Chinese role Trump accepts on Iran after saying he does not need Beijing's help.
Scope of business-side deals for U.S. firms Trump asked Xi to "open up" China for.

Sources

AP — Trump arrives in Beijing for talks with China's Xi on Iran war, trade and US arms sales to Taiwan link
BBC — Trade, Iran and Taiwan on the agenda as Trump lands in China for high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping link
CBS — Trump arrives in Beijing to meet with China's President Xi Jinping link
CNN — Trump arrives in China for summit with Xi Jinping link
Guardian — Trump lands in China for high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping, as Iran war looms over talks link