US President Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing for a highly anticipated summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, aimed at addressing escalating tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

Trump landed at Beijing Capital International Airport at 7:50 pm local time on Wednesday, marking the first visit by a US president to China in nearly a decade. His arrival comes amid growing friction over trade disputes, Taiwan, Iran, and the global race for artificial intelligence dominance.

The summit is expected to focus heavily on economic and security issues, including US export restrictions on advanced AI chips and China’s access to semiconductor technology. The presence of major tech figures, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla’s Elon Musk, highlights the growing link between geopolitics and the AI industry.

Before departing Washington, Trump indicated that discussions would also cover the ongoing Iran conflict and broader Middle East instability. However, he played down expectations of confrontation, suggesting he maintained a working relationship with Xi.

Chinese officials have described the visit as an opportunity to stabilise relations, with Beijing expressing readiness to expand cooperation while managing key differences between both countries.

Trade is expected to be a central issue, particularly the tariff war that has seen both nations impose duties exceeding 100 percent on selected goods. A potential extension of the current tariff truce, agreed during their last meeting in South Korea, is also under discussion.

The summit will take place at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, where the two leaders are scheduled to hold formal talks, a state banquet, and follow-up meetings over the course of several days.

Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive topics, with Trump signalling he may raise US arms sales to the island—an issue China strongly opposes and considers a core sovereignty concern.

On the streets of Beijing, security has been tightened, reflecting the significance of the visit. Authorities have increased monitoring in key areas as anticipation builds around possible diplomatic breakthroughs.

Analysts say the outcome of the meeting could shape not only US–China relations but also global economic stability, particularly as both countries compete for technological and strategic influence in an increasingly multipolar world.