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US President Donald Trump is heading to Beijing next week for a two-day visit. The planned talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping could determine the next phase of U.S.-China relations.
The two leaders last met in South Korea in October, where they agreed to temporarily halt the damaging trade war. The upcoming summit will reveal whether that fragile truce holds.
Both sides are coming up with different priorities. Analysts say the U.S. will focus on topics such as Chinese purchases of Boeing aircraft, beef and soybeans, plus the establishment of bilateral trade and investment councils. China may want to talk mostly about tariffs, technology and Taiwan. China is seeking an extension of the trade truce, less stringent restrictions on advanced semiconductors and reduced U.S. support for Taiwan.
Of course, the war in Iran will also be discussed. Trump is expected to pressure Xi to convince Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused a global energy crisis and strained U.S. military resources in Asia. China has encouraged Iranian negotiations but did not yet apply pressure: China sees the conflict primarily as Washington's problem.
Other issues on the agenda include the case of Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai, China's nuclear build-up, security in the South China Sea, fentanyl trade and cooperation on artificial intelligence risks, the New York Times reports.
Analysts do not expect major breakthroughs. A more likely outcome is modest investment agreements and an extension of last year's temporary trade truce, with the summit serving mainly as a platform for continued dialogue. Both sides remain deeply distrustful of each other even as they try to manage their rivalry and reduce their mutual economic dependence.
© picture alliance / YONHAPNEWS AGENCY | Yonhap