China seeks 'more stability' as it confirms Trump-Xi meet

BEIJING: Beijing said on Monday that it is ready to work with the United States in pursuit of "more stability" and confirmed that Donald Trump will visit China this week, the first US president to do so since 2017.

Washington and Beijing have been at loggerheads over key issues ranging from trade tariffs to the Middle East war and Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.

Top trade negotiators from both countries will meet in Seoul a day before Trump's summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to iron out details on trade and economic issues, a sign of the visit's high stakes.

After the announcement by the White House several weeks ago, China's foreign ministry has now confirmed that Trump's visit will go ahead from Wednesday to Friday.

The US leader was originally meant to visit in late March or in early April, but postponed his trip to focus on the US-Israel war with Iran.

"Top-level diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China-US relations," Beijing's foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular news briefing.

"China is willing to work with the United States in the spirit of equality, respect, and mutual benefit, to expand cooperation, manage differences, and inject more stability and certainty into a volatile and intertwined world," he said.

Seoul starter

This is the first visit by a US president to China since Trump's previous visit in 2017, and is expected to include a tour of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and a lavish state banquet.

The White House has said it is of "tremendous symbolic significance" and promised that Trump will "deliver more good deals" for Americans.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will set up the visit during talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Seoul on Wednesday.

He and Bessent have been the chief negotiators for the United States and China on all trade and economic issues.

Those talks are likely to put the finishing touches on any announcements that will be made during the leaders' summit.

Bessent will arrive in Seoul after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Takaichi's comments in November on Taiwan triggered an ongoing diplomatic row with Beijing.

"Economic security is national security, and I look forward to a productive series of engagements as we work to advance President Trump's America First Economic Agenda," Bessent said as he announced both stops on social media.

Iran overshadows

Trump and Xi last met face-to-face in October on the sidelines of a regional summit in South Korea.

They agreed then to a one-year truce in a blistering trade war that saw tariffs on many goods exceed 100 per cent.

The Middle East war is expected to dominate the agenda this time.

China is one of Iran's biggest trading partners, with Tehran's foreign minister visiting Beijing last week.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart that China would play a "greater role" in restoring regional peace.

Trump is expected to push Xi on Beijing's position on the war, according to US officials.

Asked about US pressure on Monday, foreign ministry spokesman Guo said only that China's position on Iran was "consistent" and that Beijing would continue to play a "positive role" in promoting a ceasefire and peace talks.

Adding to the tension, the US State Department sanctioned three China-based satellite firms on Friday for enabling Iran's military operations.

The foreign ministry said on Monday that Beijing "firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions".

"China has repeatedly made clear its solemn position. The most urgent task is to do everything to avoid the resumption of conflict, not to use the conflict to... maliciously smear other countries."

The US Treasury Department had separately sanctioned several mainland China and Hong Kong-based firms for aiding Iran's weapons supply.