BEIJING: President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday with a high-profile entourage that included Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla chief Elon Musk, ahead of a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said he would press Xi to “open up” China to US businesses at the start of the visit.
The trip marks the first visit by a US president to China in nearly a decade. Trump is seeking potential trade deals, aiming to preserve a fragile trade truce between the world’s two largest economies, and bolster domestic political support amid pressure linked to the ongoing war with Iran.
The business leaders accompanying him largely represent companies trying to resolve long-standing commercial issues in China. Among them is Nvidia, which has faced regulatory hurdles in obtaining approval to sell its advanced H200 artificial intelligence chips in the Chinese market.
According to a source familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously, Trump personally invited Jensen Huang to join the trip at short notice. Huang was later seen boarding Air Force One during a refuelling stop in Alaska while en route to Beijing.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he would ask President Xi, whom he described as “a Leader of extraordinary distinction,” to “open up” China so that US business leaders could “work their magic.” He added that this would be his first request during the meeting.
Responding to Trump’s remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing was prepared to “expand cooperation, manage differences and inject more stability and certainty into the turbulent world.”
While Trump travelled to the summit, US trade negotiator Scott Bessent completed three hours of preparatory talks with Chinese officials in South Korea. The discussions were held with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng at a VIP reception area in Incheon airport and concluded just before 4 p.m. local time, according to a US official.
China’s state news agency Xinhua described the talks as “candid, in-depth and constructive,” though no detailed outcomes were shared publicly.
Trump’s schedule in China includes a formal reception at the Great Hall of the People, a visit to the UNESCO-listed Temple of Heaven, and a state banquet hosted in his honour.
The agenda is expected to cover multiple sensitive issues, including trade relations, the Iran conflict, and US arms sales to Taiwan. Trump is also likely to encourage China to help persuade Tehran to reach a deal with Washington to end the ongoing conflict, although he has said he does not believe Beijing’s assistance will be necessary.
China, meanwhile, reiterated its strong opposition to US arms sales to Taiwan, while uncertainty remains over a proposed $14 billion package awaiting Trump’s approval.
On the economic front, the US and China are working to maintain a truce reached in October, under which Trump suspended steep tariffs on Chinese imports and Beijing eased restrictions on rare earth exports critical for industries such as electric vehicles and defence manufacturing.
Both sides are also expected to explore new frameworks for trade and investment cooperation, as well as dialogue on artificial intelligence. Washington is additionally seeking to expand exports to China, including Boeing aircraft, agricultural products, and energy supplies, in an effort to reduce its trade deficit.
At the same time, Beijing is pushing for the US to relax export restrictions on advanced semiconductor technology and chipmaking equipment.
However, Trump enters the talks from a comparatively weaker position. US courts have limited his ability to impose tariffs unilaterally on China and other trading partners.
Domestically, the Iran conflict has contributed to rising inflation and increased political pressure on Trump, raising concerns that his Republican Party could lose control of one or both chambers of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections.
Despite China’s own economic slowdown, President Xi faces fewer immediate political pressures. Analysts suggest this dynamic gives Beijing additional leverage in negotiations.
“The Trump administration needs this meeting more than China does, as it needs to show to American voters that deals are signed, money is made,” said Liu Qian, founder and CEO of Wusawa Advisory, a Beijing-based geopolitical consultancy.
Reactions within China were mixed. Some residents expressed cautious optimism about the visit, while others remained uncertain about its outcomes.
“I don’t know if he’s genuinely sincere,” said Lou Huilian, a 44-year-old working in the oil trade, speaking outside a metro station on her way to work.
“But speaking as a Chinese person, and as someone working in trade, I just hope some good policies can come out of this.”