Update (May 13, evening): Air Force One touched down in Beijing late Wednesday SL time, NewsFirst reported, marking Trump’s physical arrival for two days of talks with Xi.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday began his highly anticipated trip to China, saying it will be “very exciting,” with the world watching whether anything dramatic on the Iran war or Taiwan will emerge from his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump, who arrived in Beijing on Wednesday evening, is joined by executives from major American companies and is hoping to clinch significant business deals despite long-running trade friction and intensifying competition in advanced technologies.
For many officials in Asia and elsewhere, the most consequential item at stake will be the prospects of a resolution to the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in late February, and whether Trump shifts US declaratory policy on Taiwan.
Before leaving for the Chinese capital, Trump told reporters he would have a “long talk” with Xi about the Middle East conflict. “He’s been somebody that we get along with,” Trump said of Xi. “I think you’re going to see that good things are going to happen. This is going to be a very exciting trip. A lot of good things are going to happen.”
China is by far the largest buyer of Iranian crude oil, providing a crucial economic lifeline to Tehran. Showing signs of frustration at a lack of progress in talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Trump is widely expected to ask Xi to persuade Iran to reach a deal. But on Tuesday Trump said he thinks the United States does not need any help from China regarding Iran.
The visit marks the first US presidential trip to China since November 2017, when Trump travelled to Beijing during his first term. In December he announced an $11 billion package of arms sales to Taiwan — the largest ever — which drew a sharp reaction from Beijing.
The trip carries direct economic relevance for Sri Lanka. Any China-mediated breakthrough on Iran could ease the Hormuz risk premium driving up Sri Lankan fuel costs, and Beijing remains a major bilateral partner on infrastructure, energy and debt restructuring. The visit also follows Trump’s earlier warning that the Iran truce is on the brink of collapse and unfolds against the backdrop of collapsed Pakistan-mediated US-Iran talks.
