Overview
- Beijing confirmed Monday that President Donald Trump will make a state visit from May 13 to 15, with a welcome ceremony, a Temple of Heaven tour, a state banquet and a working lunch on the schedule.
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will hold trade consultations in Seoul on Tuesday and Wednesday to finalize items for the leaders.
- U.S. officials say Trump will press China over its ties with Iran, reaffirm U.S. policy on Taiwan, seek a channel for talks on artificial intelligence and push for nuclear discussions that Beijing has resisted.
- Both sides are expected to unveil mechanisms to manage commerce, including a proposed Board of Trade and Board of Investment, with China likely to announce purchases of Boeing jets, U.S. farm goods and energy, while any extension of the rare earths truce remains uncertain.
- This will be the first visit to China by a U.S. president since 2017 after a trip planned for March or April was postponed because of the Iran war, and the White House says a reciprocal visit by Xi Jinping to Washington is planned later this year.