United States President Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing for a major summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping as tensions over trade, Taiwan and the Iran war continue to shape relations between the world’s two largest economies.

The two leaders are scheduled to meet on Thursday and Friday in Trump’s first visit to China since 2017. The summit comes after weeks of failed US efforts to persuade Beijing to help bring Iran back to negotiations and ease tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

Trade is expected to remain a central focus of the talks. Washington wants China to increase purchases of American goods, including aircraft, beef and soybeans, while Beijing is seeking relief from US restrictions on advanced semiconductor exports and chip-making technology.

Technology and supply chains are also likely to dominate discussions. The United States has tightened controls on advanced chips heading to China, arguing the measures are necessary to limit Beijing’s military and artificial intelligence development. China, which controls most of the world’s rare earth refining, has responded with export restrictions on key minerals used in electronics and defence industries.

The war involving Iran is another major issue on the agenda. The US hopes China will use its influence over Tehran to help reduce tensions and support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments. China remains Iran’s biggest oil buyer and also relies heavily on Middle Eastern energy supplies.

Taiwan is expected to be among the most sensitive topics during the summit. China claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has increased military activity around it in recent years. The US continues to support Taiwan’s defence through arms sales, a policy Beijing strongly opposes.

Analysts say both leaders are seeking stability while protecting their strategic interests. Trump is expected to look for visible economic wins ahead of US midterm elections, while Xi aims to preserve China’s global standing without appearing to give in to American pressure.

Although a major breakthrough appears unlikely, observers expect both sides to explore limited agreements on tariffs, trade and supply chains while keeping communication channels open amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.