Donald Trump Arrives in China for Key State Visit
Trump's Arrival in Beijing
Beijing: On Wednesday evening, US President Donald Trump touched down in China aboard Air Force One at approximately 7:50 PM local time. This marks the beginning of his three-day state visit from May 13 to 15. Upon his arrival at the Beijing airport, he was ceremoniously welcomed by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who serves as President Xi Jinping's representative for diplomatic occasions. Alongside Zheng, other officials including Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng and executive vice minister of foreign affairs Ma Zhaoxu were present to greet Trump. The White House confirmed that US Ambassador to China David Perdue was also in attendance during Trump's landing.
As Trump disembarked from the aircraft, around 300 Chinese schoolchildren dressed in blue-and-white uniforms waved both American and Chinese flags in a show of goodwill.
#WATCH | Beijing: US President Donald Trump lands in China for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.(Video Source: US Network Pool via Reuters) pic.twitter.com/L5o9iVvAQh
— News Media (@NewsMedia) May 13, 2026
Trump is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday (May 13), marking their seventh in-person discussion. Their last meeting took place in October 2025 in Busan, South Korea. Following their initial meeting, the two leaders will reconvene on Friday for a bilateral tea and working lunch, as confirmed by Press Secretary Anna Kelly. She also mentioned that the US intends to invite the Chinese leader for a reciprocal visit later this year.
Prior to Trump's arrival, Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and Scott Bessent concluded the final round of trade negotiations in South Korea, although specific details remain undisclosed. The discussions reportedly centered around trade and tariffs, advancements in artificial intelligence and technology, the situation in Taiwan, US arms sales to Taipei, security in Iran and West Asia, as well as rare earths and supply chains.
This visit marks Trump's second trip to China in nine years, aimed at securing a trade agreement to resolve ongoing tariff disputes that have impacted over USD 525 billion in exports to the US. His first visit occurred in 2017 during his initial term as president.