President Donald Trump will visit China from May 13 to 15 after receiving an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping, Beijing confirmed on Monday.
The trip comes as tensions remain high between the United States and China over trade, Taiwan, and the conflict involving Iran.
Trump had planned to visit China earlier this year, but delayed the trip to focus on developments in the Middle East.
US officials said Trump will discuss Iran and trade issues with Xi during the visit. China remains one of the biggest buyers of Iranian oil, mainly through independent refineries that depend on discounted crude from Tehran. The White House said the visit carries strong diplomatic importance, but added that Trump also hopes to secure economic gains and ease trade tensions between both countries.
The trip will include major ceremonial events in Beijing, such as a tour of the Temple of Heaven and a state banquet hosted by the Chinese government.
The visit will be Trump’s first trip to China during his second term in office and the first by a sitting US president since 2017.
Analysts believe the meeting could influence the future of relations between the world’s two largest economies.
