Trump to visit China on May 13-15, talks to focus on these key global issues

Trump to visit China this week: At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump will visit China this week. The two-day trip will begin on May 13 and conclude on May 15, foreign media reported. This will be the first visit by a US president to China in nearly nine years.

The visit comes amid the long-running US-Israel-Iran war, the global energy crisis caused by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and rising tensions between the two countries over a range of issues, including Taiwan.

According to US principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly, Trump will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday evening for what she described as a visit of "tremendous symbolic significance." During the trip, the US President is expected to attend a welcome ceremony and hold bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping on Thursday. He will also visit the Temple of Heaven and attend a state banquet, the foreign media reported.

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Visit Comes Amid Iran Conflict and Global Energy Concerns

Trump’s China visit is taking place against the backdrop of a prolonged conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Recent days have seen renewed exchanges of fire, attacks on ships and Gulf states, and fresh clashes involving Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The tensions have intensified fears of a wider regional conflict and worsened the global energy crisis. Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil and natural gas exports, and the continued American blockade of Iranian ports have contributed to surging fuel prices and market uncertainty worldwide.

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The US president is expected to use the China visit to urge Xi Jinping to pressure Iran into making concessions and move towards ending the current deadlock. China remains the largest buyer of sanctioned Iranian crude oil, giving Beijing significant leverage in the situation.

Trump Rejects Iran’s Latest Proposal

Trump on Sunday rejected a new proposal sent by Iran through Pakistan. According to Iranian state television, Tehran demanded war reparations from the US, recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of sanctions and the release of seized Iranian assets abroad.

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Iran also called for an immediate end to the war, including fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei accused Washington of maintaining "one-sided views and unreasonable demands," while insisting that Iran was only seeking its "legitimate rights."

At the same time, Iran reportedly offered to dilute part of its highly enriched uranium and transfer the remaining stockpile to a third country during proposed 30-day negotiations, according to regional officials involved in the talks.

Russia Offers to Take Iranian Uranium

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to take custody of Iran’s uranium stockpile. Russia already operates Iran’s sole nuclear power plant at Bushehr and had previously taken part in Iran’s uranium stockpile under the 2015 nuclear deal. Asked about Putin’s offer, Baghaei said Iran’s current focus remained on ending the war.