Trump and Xi begin talks in Beijing amid trade and Iran tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping began high-stakes talks in Beijing on Thursday, with trade disputes, Iran tensions, Taiwan and artificial intelligence expected to dominate the agenda.

The meeting at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People marks Trump’s first visit to China since 2017 and comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions linked to the Iran conflict and global economic uncertainty.

Opening the summit, Xi said stable China-U.S. relations were important for global stability, while Trump said ties between the two countries would become “better than ever.”

According to international media reports, Washington is seeking progress on trade issues, market access for U.S. companies and China’s role in easing tensions around Iran, while Beijing is expected to push for reduced U.S. support for Taiwan.

The two-day summit is being closely watched by global markets as investors assess potential implications for trade flows, energy prices and broader geopolitical stability.