Arrival and Welcome

Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on 13 May 2026, touching down at Beijing Capital International Airport at approximately 19:50 local time.

Trump was greeted by China's Vice-President Han Zheng, US Ambassador David Perdue, Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng, and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu.

The welcome ceremony featured a red carpet, an honor guard, a military band, and hundreds of people waving Chinese and US flags. Accompanying Trump on Air Force One were Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Elon Musk, Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth.

Statements

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Trump to discuss ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine during the meetings with Xi.

Trump stated before departure that the US does not need help with Iran and that the situation is "under control." He described Xi's stance during the Iran crisis as "relatively good."

Trade Discussions

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held talks in South Korea on resolving economic and trade issues, according to Chinese state media.

The talks precede the Trump-Xi summit, with both nations operating under a fragile tariff truce agreed in October 2025.

Background

The Middle East conflict, particularly the war in Iran affecting the Strait of Hormuz, is expected to be a key topic. The US recently sanctioned Chinese firms for assisting Iranian oil shipments; China condemned these as "illegal unilateral sanctions."

The summit is the first of four potential meetings between Trump and Xi over the next year.