WASHINGTON/BEIJING: US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would urge Chinese President Xi Jinping to further open China’s economy to American businesses during their high-profile summit in Beijing this week.
“I will be asking President Xi, a Leader of extraordinary distinction, to ‘open up’ China so that these brilliant people can work their magic, and help bring the People’s Republic to an even higher level!” Trump wrote on social media, referring to top US business executives accompanying him on the trip.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 13, 2026
Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday for a state visit taking place at a tense moment for the global economy amid concerns over war, trade disputes, and artificial intelligence competition.
“We’re the two superpowers,” Trump told reporters before departing the White House. “We’re the strongest nation on Earth in terms of military. China’s considered second.”
Despite projecting confidence, Trump’s visit comes at a politically sensitive time as his domestic approval ratings have been affected by the US and Israel’s war with Iran and rising inflation linked to the conflict.
The US president is seeking economic gains from the visit by securing Chinese commitments to purchase more American agricultural products and aircraft.
Trump said trade would remain the central focus of his discussions with Xi.
The Trump administration is also hoping to establish a new “Board of Trade” mechanism with China aimed at addressing long-standing economic disputes between the world’s two largest economies.
Officials believe the proposed framework could help prevent another trade war following last year’s tariff dispute, when Trump imposed higher tariffs, and China responded by tightening controls on rare earth mineral exports.
The tensions eventually led to a one-year truce reached in October last year.
However, the continuing war with Iran remains a major backdrop to the Beijing visit.
The war has severely disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, leaving oil and gas shipments stranded and pushing global energy prices sharply higher, raising fears of slower economic growth worldwide.
Despite growing international concerns, Trump insisted China’s assistance was not necessary in resolving the Iran crisis, even after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Beijing last week.
“We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control,” Trump told reporters Tuesday.
