US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit to hold several rounds of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The leaders held their first bilateral meeting on Thursday, with Trump praising Xi as a “great leader” and expressing optimism about the trajectory of US-China ties.
Trump emphasized the personal rapport he says he has with Xi, saying the two have resolved tensions through direct communication. “We’ve had a fantastic relationship. We’ve gotten along. When there were difficulties, we worked it out,” he said, noting they would call each other to sort out problems quickly.
Reports indicate Trump plans to press China to play a larger role in ending the war in the Middle East, now in its third month. Although the United States and Iran have agreed a temporary ceasefire, regional tensions remain high.
Accompanying Trump on the trip is US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told Fox News aboard Air Force One that Washington hopes to persuade Beijing to take a “more active role” in resolving the Iran crisis. Rubio described the conflict as a major source of instability that could affect Asia because of the region’s dependence on the straits for energy. “It’s in China’s interest to resolve this,” he said, adding that Washington wants China to help pressure Iran to change its actions in the Persian Gulf.
Those comments contrasted with remarks Trump made before departure, when he said he did not believe he needed Xi’s help on Iran and asserted the US would “win it one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise.” He later told reporters he intended to have a “long talk” with Xi about the situation.
A Reuters report cautioned that Trump may not obtain the level of cooperation he seeks. Analysts cited in the report expect Xi might encourage Iran to return to negotiations but be reluctant to sever economic ties with Tehran or stop supplying dual-use goods that can support its military.
For Beijing, Iran remains a strategic partner and a counterweight to US influence in the Middle East. While the conflict carries economic implications for China, it also diverts American diplomatic and military focus away from the Indo-Pacific region.
During their first meeting, Trump thanked Xi for the warm reception, calling it “an honor like few have ever seen before.” Earlier, Trump was greeted at the airport by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, a departure from standard diplomatic protocol.