Heads to Beijing with Musk and top tech CEOs in tow, seeks opening to Chinese markets
United States President Donald Trump said he would ask Xi Jinping to "open up" China to American firms as heheaded to Beijingon Wednesday for a high-stakes summit. will also bring upthe Iran war.
In a sign of Trump's focus on business. Nvidia chief Jensen Huang boarded Air Force One during a stopover in Alaska, with Tesla's Elon Musk also travelling on the presidential plane to China.
"I will be asking President Xi, a Leader of extraordinary distinction, to 'open up' China so that these brilliant people can work their magic,. help bring the People's Republic to an even higher level!" Trumpwrote on social mediaafter departing Washington.
A host of other top CEOs. including Apple's Tim Cook, will also be in Beijing for the visit, the first by a US president to China in nearly a decade.
Read:China's role in the Middle East
But Trump's ambitions to ramp up trade will have to contend with political frictions overTaiwan. the warin the Middle East, which already delayed the trip from March.
As he departed the White House. Trump said he expected a "long talk" with Xi about Iran, which sells most of its US-sanctioned oil to China. But he also downplayed disagreements, telling reporters that "Idon't think we need any helpwith Iran" from China. that Xi had been "relatively good" on the topic.
Yet Beijing is growing impatient for peace, with China's foreign ministerurging his Pakistani counterparton Tuesday to step up mediation efforts between Iran. the US.
This week's trip -- the first since Trump visited Beijing in 2017 -- will involve highly anticipated talks with Xi on Thursday. Friday, as well as lavish pomp and ceremony. The packed itinerary includes a state banquet in Beijing's Great Hall of the People and a tea reception.
Trump said Monday he would speak to Xi aboutUS arms sales to Taiwan. the self-governing democracy claimed by China -- a departure from historic US insistence that it will not consult Beijing on its support to the island.
China's controls on rare earth exports,AI rivalryand the countries'raucous trade relationshipare also among the topics expected to be taken up by the heads of the world's top two economies.
The two sides are set to discuss extending a one-year truce in theirtariff war, which Trump. Xi reached during their lastmeeting in South Koreain October.
The tense buildup to the superpower summit was already visible on the streets of Beijing, with police monitoring major intersections. checking the ID cards of passengers on the metro,AFPjournalists saw.
"It's definitely a big deal," said Wen Wen. a 24-year-old woman travelling from the eastern city of Nanjing, when asked byAFPabout Trump's visit. "Some progress will certainly be made," she said, noting that she hopes China. the US can ensure "lasting peace" despite "recent instability in the global situation".
'Very good relationship'
The US. China have long sought to stabilise their relationship despite increasingly seeing each other as adversaries in trade and geopolitics.
Trump has repeatedly touted a strong personal relationship with Xi. which he insisted on Monday would prevent a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing. "I think we'll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi. He knows I don't want that to happen," he said.
Read More:What the US, China want from Trump’s Beijing visit
Trump's trip will be closely scrutinised by Taiwan and Asian allies for any sign of weakening US support.
Beijing has grown more confident. assertive since Trump's 2017 trip and the US president finds himself in aweakened positionas he seeks a way out of his Iran war.
But the summit also comes at an uncertain time for China's economy, which hasstruggled in recent yearswith sluggish domestic spending. a protracted debt crisis in the once-booming property sector.
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