BRIC Team reports: A decade on, Trump returns to a stronger and more assertive ChinaTrump was greeted on the red carpet by Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng, one of China's top leaders. The move is being read as a show of respect for the US president from Beijing, after a lower-level leader received Trump on his last visit. Last year, the US imported more than $200bn worth of goods from China than it exported there.
China, for its part, has sought to present itself as formidable competitor in the global AI arms race, increasing its demand for US-made computing chips. But many in the US are wary of Chinese firms stealing their technology, prompting tighter restrictions on exports. This is where Beijing could wield its leverage over rare earth metals, essential for high-tech industries, a tool the country previously used in retaliation against Trump's tariffs.
Background
On trade, Trump is expected to push for increased Chinese purchase of US agricultural products, while Beijing is likely to pressure Washington to lower tariffs on Chinese goods.AFP via Getty ImagesWhat to know as Trump visits Xi in ChinaThe war in Iran is also expected to be high on the agenda as Trump meets Xi.China relies heavily on Iran for oil, and the exports have effectively been cut off as ships are unable to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. The two nations also have an alliance dating back decades.Beijing is under growing pressure from the US to use its economic and political influence over Iran.
Key facts
- A decade on, Trump returns to a stronger and more assertive ChinaTrump was greeted on the red carpet by Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng, one of China's top leaders.
- The move is being read as a show of respect for the US president from Beijing, after a lower-level leader received Trump on his last visit.
- Last year, the US imported more than $200bn worth of goods from China than it exported there.
What this means
Shortly before departing for China, Trump told reporters in Washington he and Xi will have a "long talk" about Iran, but insisted "I don't think we need any help" in resolving the conflict.China also wants the war to end, with rising oil prices putting pressure on its economy. The meeting will also be marked by tensions over Taiwan in the backdrop. The Trump administration has taken a mixed approach with Taipei, approving a massive arms deal while downplaying its willingness to defend the island from Chinese aggression.
On Friday, a bipartisan group of US senators sent a letter directly to Trump, calling on him to affirm US support for Taiwan and remind China's president of the $14bn arms sale to Taiwan approved in Congress last year."You can make clear to Beijing that as you seek to level the economic playing field, American support for Taiwan is not up for negotiation," the letter said. On Thursday, Trump is scheduled to participate in a welcome ceremony with Xi at China's Great Hall of the People, a state banquet, multiple bilateral meetings, and a "friendship photo" in Beijing's Zhongnanhai Garden.He will leave China on Friday, following tea and a working lunch with Xi.How the Trump-Xi summit could set superpower relations for many years to comeTrump's China visit set to test fragile truceDonald TrumpTrump tariffsXi JinpingUnited StatesChina-US relationsChina
