Donald Trump plans May visit to China for talks with Xi after Iran war delay

US President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in May, marking his first trip to China in eight years. This visit was delayed due to the ongoing war in Iran. Trump wants to show he is confident amidst challenges in the Middle East while also dealing with the complicated relationship between the two largest economies in the world. Originally planned for next week, Trump will now be in Beijing on May 14 and 15, as he announced on his Truth Social account on Wednesday, March 25. He also mentioned plans for Xi to visit Washington later this year. “Our Representatives are finalising preparations for these Historic Visits,” Trump stated. “I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event.” The Chinese embassy has not provided any details about the visit. Typically, Beijing does not share Xi's schedule more than a few days ahead of time. This trip has been in the works for a while, but various events have pushed it back. In February, the Supreme Court limited Trump’s ability to impose tariffs, which he had hoped would help in negotiations with China, the US’ third-largest trading partner. Later that month, a military operation Trump conducted with Israel against Iran created more tension with Beijing, as Iran is a major buyer of oil from China. Trump last visited China in 2017, which was the most recent trip to the country by a US president. The upcoming May visit will be the first time the two leaders have met face-to-face since their meeting in South Korea last October, where they agreed on a trade truce. The White House has indicated that Xi understands Trump's reasons for the delay.