Trump in China LIVE: Xi Jinping set for 'long talk' on Iran as Elon Musk joins President
US President Donald Trump is set to land in Beijing for historic talks with China and he will be joined by billionaire businessman Elon Musk
US President Donald Trump is set to land in Beijing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in his first visit to the country since 2017.
The visit will include talks between the leaders of the two superpowers, a banquet and a visit to the Temple of Heaven. Trump told reporters before leaving for China that he would have a "long talk" about Chinese ally Iran with Xi.
Beijing has joined Pakistan as a mediator in the conflict between the US and Iran, which sparked after the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian sites on February 28. Iran retaliated by striking sites across the Middle East and closing the critical Strait of Hormuz trade route.
The meeting will also provide the stage for dialogue between the world's number one and number two economies on a series of other topics, with Trump ally and billionaire businessman Elon Musk accompanying the US president.
FOLLOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE DOWN BELOW.
KEY EVENTS
List of those accompanying Trump to China
Trump has shared a list of those accompanying him on his visit to China.
He wrote in a post on Truth Social:
"CNBC incorrectly reported that the Great Jensen Huang, of Nvidia, was not invited to the incredible gathering of the World’s Greatest Businessmen/women proudly going to China. In actuality, Jensen is currently on Air Force One and, unless I ask him to leave, which is highly unlikely, CNBC’s reporting is incorrect or, as they say in politics, FAKE NEWS! It is an Honor to have Jensen, Elon, Tim Apple, Larry Fink, Stephen Schwarzmann, Kelly Ortberg (Boeing), Brian Sikes (Cargill), Jane Fraser (Citi), Larry Culp (GE Aerospace), David Solomon (Goldman Sachs), Sanjay Mehrotra (Micron), Cristiano Amon (Qualcomm), and many others journeying to the Great Country of China where I will be asking President Xi, a Leader of extraordinary distinction, to “open up” China so that these brilliant people can work their magic, and help bring the People’s Republic to an even higher level! In fact, I promise, that when we are together, which will be in a matter of hours, I will make that my very first request. I have never seen or heard of any idea that would be more beneficial to our incredible Countries! President DONALD J. TRUMP"
Trump: 'I don't think about Americans' financial situation'
US President Donald Trump spoke to reporters before departing for China.
Speaking on the Iran war, Trump said Americans' financial situation was "not even a little bit" of a factor for him in achieving a peace plan with Iran.
Trump told reporters: "I don't think about Americans' financial situation. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing: we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all."
Trump to land in China for 'defining diplomatic encounters' soon
Donald Trump is scheduled to land in China at 3am UK time on Wednesday for a summit with Xi Jinping that analysts are calling one of the defining diplomatic encounters of his presidency.
Washington's attention has been elsewhere for much of the past year - consumed by the Iran conflict, operations in the Western Hemisphere and domestic political battles - but Beijing moves to centre stage this week. Global trade, the Taiwan question and the race for technological supremacy are all on the table.
Read the full story here.
