BRIC Team reports: When Trump exited the plane on Wednesday evening, he was greeted 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. The country also faces growing pressure from the US to use its economic and political influence over Iran.
China and Iran have an alliance dating back decades, and Beijing is Tehran's biggest trading partner.The meeting will also be marked by tensions over Taiwan in the backdrop. The Trump administration has take a mixed approach with Taipei, approving a massive arms deal while downplaying its willingness to defend the island from Chinese aggression. As for trade, Trump is expected push to increase Chinese purchase of US agricultural products, while Beijing looks to pressure the US to reduce its tariffs on Chinese goods.
Background
A decade on, Trump returns to a stronger and more assertive ChinaHow the Trump-Xi summit could set superpower relations for many years to comeTrump's China visit set to test fragile truceDonald TrumpChinaXi JinpingUnited States
Key facts
- When Trump exited the plane on Wednesday evening, he was greeted 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.
- The country also faces growing pressure from the US to use its economic and political influence over Iran.
