Trump Lands in Beijing for Talks with Xi on Tariffs, Tech and Iran War

US President Donald Trump stepped off Air Force One in Beijing on Wednesday evening, met with an elaborate welcome before a key meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The two-day visit will cover tariffs, technology rivalry, the Iran war and US relations with Taiwan.

Trump faces a bolder China than during his 2017 trip, while drawing criticism over his Middle East military action.

The visit, set for March, was postponed because of the ongoing US and Israel war in Iran that has unsettled world markets.

Vice President Han Zheng, a top Chinese official, greeted Trump as he left the plane Wednesday evening.

Analysts see the high-level reception as respect from Beijing, unlike the lower-ranking official who met Trump last time.

Eric Trump, his son, joined the airport welcome on the red carpet, along with US tech leaders including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Ahead of landing, Trump posted on social media: "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."

He called it his "very first request" in the meeting.

China depends heavily on Iranian oil, now blocked as ships cannot pass the Strait of Hormuz. Beijing also faces US demands to leverage its sway over Iran.

Taiwan tensions loom over the talks. The Trump administration approved a large arms sale to Taipei but played down any commitment to protect the island from China.