WASHINGTON/BEIJING: US President Donald Trump will visit China from May 13 to 15 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to China’s foreign ministry.
Trump had originally planned to travel to China in late March or early April but postponed the visit to focus on the war involving Iran.
“At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President of the United States of America Donald J Trump will pay a state visit to China from May 13 to 15,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said.
According to US officials, Trump is expected to press President Xi on issues related to Iran while also seeking to reduce trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.
China remains a major buyer of Iranian oil, particularly through independent “teapot” refineries that import discounted crude from Iran.
“This will be a visit of tremendous symbolic significance,” US Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told reporters during a media briefing.
“But of course, President Trump never travels for symbolism alone. The American people can expect the president to deliver more good deals on behalf of our country.”
The White House said Trump’s first China visit of his second presidential term would include ceremonial events such as a tour of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and a state banquet hosted by Chinese officials.
The trip will mark the first visit by a sitting US president to China since 2017.
