President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on May 14 for a closely watched two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the ongoing situation with Iran and its economic fallout pushed trade and security issues to the top of the agenda.
The summit, originally scheduled for late March, was delayed by six weeks due to the Iran situation. Trump and Xi held multiple rounds of talks covering Iran, trade relations, and the status of Taiwan. The Chinese president offered to help broker a deal with Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that has been largely blocked since the situation began in late February.
Trump said Xi told him he would like to see the strait reopened and offered to assist in negotiations. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the United States was not asking for China's help, though both sides agreed Iran should not obtain nuclear weapons or militarize the strait.
The summit also saw tensions over Taiwan. Xi warned in a closed-door meeting that differences over the island could lead to serious disagreements. Rubio reiterated that US policy remains one of strategic ambiguity and said it would be a serious mistake for China to take Taiwan by force.
On trade, discussions focused on China purchasing more American agricultural products and passenger planes, with both sides agreeing to set up a board to address differences. Trump invited Xi to the White House for a reciprocal visit on September 24, and the two leaders could meet up to four times in 2026 at international summits.