US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade. He is seeking to advance trade ties despite friction over Taiwan and Iran. Talks with President Xi Jinping are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, in a packed itinerary that includes a state banquet and tea reception.

What is on the agenda for the Trump-Xi summit?

The Trump-Xi summit is expected to cover rare earth export controls, tariffs, US arms sales to Taiwan, and Iran’s reliance on China as its top buyer of sanctioned oil. Trump said he expected a “long talk” with Xi about Iran specifically.

China’s trade surplus with the United States and broader economic ties are also expected to feature prominently.

What did Trump say before leaving for Beijing?

Leaving Washington on Tuesday, Trump said he expected a “long talk” with Xi about Iran, but played down the extent of disagreements between the two leaders. “I don’t think we need any help with Iran. We’ll win it one way or the other. We’ll win it peacefully or otherwise,” he told reporters at the White House. He described Xi as having been “relatively good, to be honest with you” on the Iran issue.

The trip was delayed by the war with Iran, which the United States and Israel launched on February 28. It is Trump’s first visit to China since 2017. A large delegation of top US business executives, including Tesla’s Elon Musk and Apple’s Tim Cook, is accompanying the president, the White House confirmed.

How is China responding to the Trump visit?

The tense buildup to the superpower summit was visible on the streets of Beijing on Tuesday, with police monitoring major intersections and checking passengers’ ID cards on the metro.

Beijing residents appeared to follow the visit closely. “It’s definitely a big deal,” said Wen Wen, a 24-year-old travelling from Nanjing. “Some progress will certainly be made,” she added, expressing hope for “lasting peace” despite “recent instability in the global situation.”

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi, meanwhile, urged his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in a phone call on Tuesday to step up mediation efforts between Iran and the United States. Wang called on Islamabad to “contribute to properly addressing issues related to opening the Strait of Hormuz,” according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.

What role does Iran play in US-China tensions?

The Iran war has added new strain to an already complicated relationship between Beijing and Washington. China is the top customer for Iran’s US-sanctioned oil, and the issue is expected to feature in Trump’s talks with Xi.

The US Treasury Department sanctioned 12 individuals and entities on Monday, including several based in Hong Kong, over their alleged role in facilitating Iranian oil sales to China. Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said China “firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions.”

What does the Trump-Xi summit mean for Taiwan?

Trump said on Monday that he would raise US arms sales to Taiwan during the summit, a departure from the historic US position of not consulting Beijing on its support for the self-governing island. He insisted his personal relationship with Xi would prevent a Chinese military invasion.

“I think we’ll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi. He knows I don’t want that to happen,” Trump said. The trip is being closely watched in Taiwan for any sign of weakening US commitment to the island’s defense.

What is the state of US-China trade relations?

Trade ties between Beijing and Washington have been fraught for years. The two sides are currently holding to a one-year tariff truce reached when Trump and Xi last met in South Korea in October. China’s large trade surplus with the United States has long irritated Trump, who imposed tariffs on Chinese goods during his first term.

The summit comes at a difficult moment for China’s economy, which has struggled with sluggish domestic spending and a prolonged debt crisis in its property sector.