Arabic version: ترامب يغادر إلى بكين، ويقلل من أهمية مناقشات إيران مع شي

United States President Donald Trump has departed the White House en route to Beijing, where he will meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Trump spoke briefly with reporters as he boarded the Marine One helicopter. He is then set to arrive in China aboard Air Force One on Wednesday, ahead of the planned meetings on Thursday and Friday. According to Al Jazeera, U.S. officials have taken pains in recent days to downplay how big a topic the U.S.-Israel war on Iran will be during Trump’s visit.

Despite Beijing’s clear opposition to the war and its behind-the-scenes pressure on Iran, it has largely avoided being pulled into the fray. Recent calls from U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, have urged China to use its influence to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil supply. However, Trump provided mixed signals regarding the war’s prominence in his discussions with Xi, stating that while they would talk about it, he does not see it as a primary topic.

Trump emphasized that the U.S. has Iran under control, asserting, “We’ll win it one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise.” The upcoming meetings represent the first in-person interactions between the leaders since their encounter at the APEC summit in Busan, South Korea, in October 2025. This trip marks Trump’s second visit to China as president and his first since beginning his second term on January 20, 2025.

Trade issues are expected to dominate the discussions, with Trump seeking new business deals. Notably, he has invited several U.S. business leaders, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook, to accompany him. Both nations are aiming to avoid a repeat of the tariff conflicts that characterized Trump’s earlier presidency. However, tensions remain, especially regarding China’s support for Iran’s military programs and recent threats from Trump concerning tariffs on Chinese goods.

Additionally, Xi is anticipated to raise concerns over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, further complicating the diplomatic landscape between the two nations.