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الوسم: bilateral meeting

  • Trump promises to press Xi on opening China at global summit

    President Donald Trump stated he would urge Xi Jinping to “open up” China to American businesses as he traveled to Beijing for a high-profile summit scheduled for Wednesday. The upcoming meeting will also address the Iran conflict. Trump’s focus on economic discussions was evident when Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla founder Elon Musk joined him on Air Force One during a layover in Alaska.

    After leaving Washington, Trump tweeted that he planned to ask President Xi, whom he described as an “extraordinarily distinguished leader,” to facilitate opening China’s markets so talented individuals can contribute their expertise to elevate the People’s Republic.

    The visit marks the first U.S. presidential trip to China in nearly ten years and will feature influential business leaders, including Apple’s Tim Cook, who are also expected to participate. Despite economic ambitions, the trip faces diplomatic hurdles related to Taiwan and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, which had previously delayed the trip from March.

    Trump indicated he would have an extended dialogue with Xi about Iran, particularly since most of Iran’s US-sanctioned oil exports go to China. He minimized disagreements by asserting that China has been “relatively good” on Iran and expressed confidence that the U.S. and China could avoid issues, due to his good personal relationship with Xi.

    Adding pressure for peace, China’s foreign minister contacted his Pakistani counterpart on Tuesday to encourage further mediation efforts between Iran and the United States.

    This week’s visit, which is set to include elaborate ceremonial activities such as a state dinner and a tea reception, will feature discussions on extending a one-year tariff truce agreed upon during their last summit in South Korea in October. Key topics will also include China’s control over rare earth exports, artificial intelligence competition, and the turbulent trade relationship between the two nations.

    The streets of Beijing are showing signs of the high-stakes nature of the summit, with police monitoring citizens and checking passenger IDs on the metro. Local observers, like 24-year-old Wen Wen from Nanjing, see the trip as significant, hoping for progress and lasting peace amid recent global instability.

    The relationship between the U.S. and China remains complex, with Trump emphasizing his personal rapport with Xi, which he believes helps prevent conflict like a potential invasion of Taiwan. Nonetheless, China’s more assertive stance since Trump’s 2017 visit and the ongoing economic challenges within China itself add layers of uncertainty as both countries navigate this pivotal diplomatic event.

  • Trump plans China visit in May after Iran war postponement

    Trump plans China visit in May after Iran war postponement

    A trip to Beijing is scheduled for May 14-15, according to the White House. Trump’s spokesperson mentioned that Xi Jinping understood the reason for the delay. Trump expressed anticipation that the visit to China would be “a monumental event.”

    In a recent announcement, the U.S. President revealed that he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in May during his first trip to China in eight years. Originally planned for the upcoming week, the trip was postponed due to the ongoing Iran conflict. Trump’s attempt to reschedule reflects his desire to project strength amid Middle Eastern tensions while managing the fragile relationship between the two largest economies.

    Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday to share that he would visit Beijing on May 14 and 15, and that he plans to host Xi Jinping for a reciprocal visit in Washington later this year.

    “Our teams are wrapping up preparations for these historic visits,” Trump stated. “I am very much looking forward to spending time with President Xi in what I am sure will be a monumental event.”

    China’s embassy said it had no further details about the visit, as Beijing usually keeps Xi’s schedule private until just a few days before events.

    The trip had been on the calendar for some time and was part of a broader effort by Washington to reset relations within the Asia-Pacific region. However, a series of developments have continually shifted priorities. In February, the Supreme Court limited the president’s authority to impose tariffs, a tool Trump used in negotiations with this country’s third-largest trading partner. That same month, a joint military operation between the U.S. and Israel against Iran heightened tensions with Beijing, which relies on Iran for a significant portion of its oil.

    Trump’s last visit to China was in 2017—the most recent by a U.S. president. The upcoming trip in May will mark the first in-person talks since an October meeting in South Korea, where the leaders agreed on a trade truce.

    While the trip will showcase many of Trump’s customary diplomatic styles, it is expected that tangible agreements may be reached in areas like agriculture exports and aircraft parts. Nonetheless, issues like Taiwan are unlikely to see significant progress; Trump has increased U.S. arms sales to Taiwan during his second term, angering Beijing, which claims the island as its territory.

    It remains uncertain whether the Iran conflict will be resolved before the leaders meet in China. Trump has sought support from major oil-consuming countries, including China, to help counter Iran’s attempts to shut the Strait of Hormuz, but so far, most responses have been limited. China, which imported about 12 million barrels of oil daily in early 2026—the highest in the world—has not directly responded to Trump’s requests.

    The White House indicated that Trump and Xi had discussed the possibility of rescheduling the trip. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that Xi understood the reasons for the delay, emphasizing the importance of Trump being present during current military operations.

    Overall, the upcoming visit is seen as a significant step amid ongoing global tensions, with both leaders expected to balance diplomatic gestures with addressing complex geopolitical issues.

  • Rubio: US Will Halt Ukraine Peace Efforts Without Quick Progress

    Rubio: US Will Halt Ukraine Peace Efforts Without Quick Progress

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at the Quai d’Orsay, France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, prior to a bilateral meeting with his French counterpart in Paris, April 17, 2025. — Reuters

    • Secretary of State asserts the US must make a decision “within days.”
    • Rubio notes “numerous other significant issues at play.”
    • Trump pledged to conclude the war on his first day in office.

    U.S. President Donald Trump is poised to abandon efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine in the coming days unless there are evident signs that an agreement is achievable, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who made the statement on Friday.

    “We’re not going to prolong this process for weeks or months. We have to quickly ascertain, within days, if this is a viable option for the upcoming weeks,” Rubio said in Paris following discussions with Ukrainian and European leaders.

    “The president is quite adamant about this. He’s invested considerable time and resources… While this is significant, there are many other pressing matters that require equally, if not more, attention.”

    Rubio’s comments came as some positive developments were emerging from discussions between the U.S. and Ukraine.

    On Thursday, Trump revealed he is hopeful to finalize an agreement with Kyiv next week that would grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. A prior attempt to establish a minerals agreement in February collapsed due to a dispute involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office.

    Following Thursday’s discussions in Paris—the first meaningful high-level talks on Trump’s diplomatic initiative that included European powers—Rubio mentioned that a U.S. framework for peace received a “positive response.” Zelenskiy’s office deemed the discussions constructive and favorable.

    Rubio’s remarks on Friday reflect growing dissatisfaction within the White House due to a perceived lack of progress in addressing an expanding range of geopolitical challenges.

    During his campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine within the first 24 hours of his presidency. Once in office, he adjusted that timeline, suggesting a potential agreement by April or May as various obstacles arose.

    Rubio stated he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the Paris meeting, informing him about the substantial nature of the discussions, and providing insight into “some of the components” of the U.S. peace plan.

    He indicated that security guarantees for the U.S. were a topic of discussion during the Paris meetings but refrained from providing extensive details.

    Rubio expressed that the issue of security guarantees could be addressed in a way agreeable to all parties but emphasized that there are larger challenges that must be resolved, including the feasibility of achieving a deal in the near term.

    “It’s clear that reaching a peace agreement will be challenging, but we need to see indications that it’s attainable soon,” he said.

    “No one is claiming this can be settled in just 12 hours. However, we want to understand how far apart the parties stand and whether these differences can be narrowed in the timeframe we’re considering,” he added.

    Requests for comments from the French presidency and foreign ministry have not yet received a response.