According to a report by AFP on May 10, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly announced during a phone briefing that the two leaders will meet in Beijing.
Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on the evening of May 13. The following morning, a welcome ceremony and a bilateral meeting with Xi will take place, followed by a visit to Tian Tan Park and a state dinner in the evening.
On May 15, Trump and Xi will have a private discussion and a working lunch before Trump returns to Washington. Kelly indicated that Xi and his wife are expected to visit the United States later this year.
The summit is expected to address key issues including tariffs, Taiwan, artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and competition over critical minerals. Notably, Trump is seeking to pressure China into cooperating on ending the war in Iran, which the U.S. and Israel initiated on February 28.
A senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested that Trump is likely to apply pressure on Xi regarding Iran. The official noted that Trump has raised concerns multiple times with Xi about China's financial support for Iran and Russia through oil sales, as well as the sale of dual-use goods that could be used for military and civilian purposes. The recent sanctions imposed by the U.S. on China related to the Iran conflict may also be discussed, the official added.
Kelly emphasized that Trump’s visit aims to "recalibrate the relationship with China and prioritize reciprocity and fairness to restore America's economic independence."
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Vessenet and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to Meet in South Korea on May 13
Ahead of the summit, senior trade representatives from both countries will meet in South Korea on May 13. Treasury Secretary Scott Vessenet announced on his X (formerly Twitter) account that he plans to visit Japan and South Korea for a series of meetings ahead of Trump’s historic summit with Xi in Beijing.
On May 12, he will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaiichi, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, and other government and private sector representatives in Tokyo to discuss U.S.-Japan economic relations.
On May 13, he will stop in Seoul for discussions with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. This indicates that the pre-summit meeting between Vessenet and He will take place in Seoul rather than Beijing.
The Chinese side has also confirmed the schedule for the pre-negotiations. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce stated on its website that Vice Premier He Lifeng will visit South Korea from May 12 to 13 to engage in economic and trade negotiations with the U.S. side.
The Ministry added that both sides will discuss economic and trade issues of mutual interest, based on the important consensus reached during the recent summit in Busan and several phone calls between the two leaders.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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