Trump and China's Xi set for talks spanning Iran, nuclear, trade and AI

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on May 10 for a two-day visit, marking his first trip to China since 2017 and his first face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in over six months. The talks, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, will cover critical issues including Iran, Taiwan, nuclear arms, and artificial intelligence, as well as efforts to stabilize trade relations and extend a critical minerals agreement. The leaders will discuss Iran amid the U.S. and Israeli war with Tehran, with Trump pressing China to use its influence to push Iran toward a deal with Washington. China remains a major consumer of Iranian oil, and the U.S. has also raised concerns about China’s ties with Russia, including revenue flows and dual-use goods. Xi, however, is frustrated with U.S. support for Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory, despite recent increases in China’s military presence near the island. Trade and investment will also be on the agenda, with plans to establish a Board of Trade and Board of Investment, though implementation details remain unclear. The two countries are expected to announce purchases related to Boeing airplanes, American agriculture, and energy. Additionally, discussions will focus on extending a trade truce allowing rare earth minerals to flow from China to the U.S., though no final decision has been made. Artificial intelligence is a key priority, with U.S. officials expressing concerns over advanced AI models developed in China and seeking to establish a communication channel to prevent conflicts. Nuclear arms discussions, however, remain stalled, as China has shown no interest in negotiations on arms control. The meeting follows strained relations over trade, technology, and geopolitical tensions, with both sides aiming to ease tensions through dialogue.