Trump reaffirmed his intent to proceed with the visit while speaking at a White House event on Monday, May 4.
“I’m going to go see President Xi in two weeks. I look forward to that,” the US President said, as per Bloomberg.
“Actually, it’ll be a very important trip,” he added.
The proposed Trump-Xi summit is expected to take place in Beijing on May 14–15, where both sides aim to address ongoing concerns, including trade frictions, Taiwan, and the continuing conflict involving Iran.
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Officials from both countries have reportedly spent months preparing for the engagement, with discussions also focusing on establishing a new framework to manage bilateral economic relations.
Uncertainty over schedule and geopolitical pressures
China, however, has yet to formally confirm the dates, in line with Beijing’s practice of releasing leadership schedules shortly before official engagements.
The meeting had already faced delays due to escalating tensions in West Asia, raising concerns in financial markets over further uncertainty in US-China relations, as per Bloomberg.
The two nations had earlier reached a temporary trade understanding during talks in South Korea, helping stabilise ties.
Trump and Xi are reportedly expected to meet multiple times this year to ensure continuity of that agreement.
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The ongoing Iran conflict has introduced additional complications. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have impacted global energy flows, placing pressure on major importers such as China.
At the same time, US efforts to tighten sanctions on Tehran have extended to Chinese refiners accused of processing Iranian crude.
In a significant move, China has directed its companies to disregard certain US sanctions linked to Iranian oil trade, marking a rare escalation.
A White House official cautioned that any company “considering skirting US sanctions should think twice,” Bloomberg reported.
Trump has also raised concerns about Beijing’s potential involvement, previously claiming that the US Navy intercepted a “gift” headed to Iran, though no further details were provided.
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Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged China to support efforts to secure maritime routes. “Let’s see them step up with some diplomacy and get the Iranians to open the strait,” he said in an interview with Fox News, as per Bloomberg.
