Trump–Xi May Meet Confirmed Amid Iran War Delay
Donald Trump confirms China visit with Xi Jinping after Iran war delay. Key US-China relations shift and global tension impact revealed.
US President Donald Trump says he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China on May 14–15. This meeting is taking place after a postponement of this key visit, amidst the ongoing conflict between the US and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other.
This will mark the first visit to China by a US President in nearly 10 years.
Confirming the dates for Trump's visit, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that President Xi understood and accepted the request to postpone the trip.
"President Xi understood that it is critical for the President to remain here during these ongoing military operations," Leavitt said during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Beijing has not yet responded to the dates announced by Trump—though it typically does not disclose Xi's schedule so far in advance. China's Foreign Ministry stated earlier this month that it was in discussions with Washington regarding the timing of Trump's visit.
The visit, originally scheduled for March 31, was postponed last month following large-scale attacks launched by the US and Israel against Iran. These attacks resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader.
In retaliation, Iran launched attacks against Israel and US allies in the Gulf region, and effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments—triggering a worldwide fuel crisis.
Trump has urged US allies to assist in reopening this waterway. He has also warned Iran that if it does not allow for unrestricted passage through the strait, he will target its energy production infrastructure. When asked whether the war with Iran would be over by the time of Trump's visit to China, Levitt stated that he had "always estimated roughly four to six weeks, so you can do the math yourself."
The last time an American President visited China was in November 2017, during Trump's first term.
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Trump and Xi's previous meeting took place last November during the APEC summit in South Korea.
Relations between the two nations have long been strained over a range of issues—spanning from trade disputes to technological rivalry and geopolitical tensions. Trump's upcoming visit will be closely watched for any signs of de-escalation. Ahead of Trump's trip, China's state-run media has encouraged U.S. officials to visit China and engage in dialogue with their Chinese counterparts.
An editorial published on Thursday in the *Global Times* stated that the lack of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, coupled with the prolonged absence of a visit by a U.S. President to China, is "unusual and should not be the case."
It added, "History has repeatedly demonstrated that cooperation benefits both China and the U.S., whereas confrontation harms both."
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