Trump Confirms May 14-15 Summit with Xi in Beijing

President Donald Trump confirmed he will travel to Beijing for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15, signaling that the high-stakes meeting will proceed despite ongoing tensions from the United States' conflict with Iran.

Trump expressed optimism about the trip during remarks on Monday at the White House and again on Friday to reporters. "I'm going to go see President Xi in two weeks. I look forward to that," he said Monday. "It is going to be amazing," he added Friday. The visit, originally planned for late March, was postponed once due to the war, which began more than two months ago when U.S. and Israeli forces launched operations against Iran. U.S. officials described the summit as a top priority, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent holding preparatory talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

The nine-week conflict has strained U.S.-China relations, primarily through disruptions to global energy supplies. Iran's military actions closed the Strait of Hormuz to most shipping, affecting China's imports of about one-third of its oil and gas. A U.S. naval blockade has further limited access to Iranian ports, contributing to higher global energy prices...