US President Trump meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Iran issue

US President Donald Trump to Meet with Chinese Leader Amid Iran War Tensions

A visit by US President Donald Trump to Beijing is scheduled for this week, during which he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss various issues, including the ongoing war in Iran. The trip, initially postponed due to the conflict, will take place on Wednesday evening and conclude on Friday.

According to White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly, the visit will feature an opening ceremony and meeting on Thursday morning. This week’s trip is expected to have “tremendous symbolic significance” and focus on rebalancing the US-China relationship, prioritizing reciprocity and fairness to restore American economic independence.

The US has been seeking to contain the fallout from the war, both domestically and internationally. A senior administration official stated that Trump may discuss Iran-related issues with China, including oil sales and potential dual-role military-civilian goods. The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, previously accused China of supporting Iran’s energy sector.

China has expressed a desire to see an end to the war and has hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arraghchi last week. However, Beijing has refused to recognize Washington’s unilateral sanctions on Iran’s oil sector. Disruptions caused by the war have affected global trade, particularly for Asian countries reliant on Middle Eastern imports.

During the talks, Trump may also discuss China’s support for Russia, as well as trade and rare earth minerals essential for the US tech sector. Business executives from Boeing and agricultural companies will accompany the US delegation. The US stance on Taiwan is not expected to change during the visit, which remains a point of contention in relations between Washington and Beijing.

Source: Al Jazeera