President Donald Trump will conduct a state visit to Beijing from May 13 to 15 [1, 2].
The visit signals a critical moment in U.S.-China relations, as both nations seek to finalize a bilateral agreement. Diplomatic sources said a pre-agreement is expected to be drafted in Seoul before being signed in Beijing [1, 2].
The itinerary spans two nights and three days [1]. Trump is scheduled to arrive on the evening of May 13 [1]. The following morning, May 14, will feature a formal welcome ceremony and summit talks [1].
Following the morning sessions on May 14, the president will attend a meeting at the Temple of Heaven [1, 2]. This historic site serves as a key backdrop for the diplomatic engagement. The visit will conclude on May 15 with tea time and a working lunch before the president returns to Washington [1].
Preparations for the summit include high-level coordination. On May 13, Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lipeng are scheduled to meet in Seoul to discuss the pre-agreement [1]. This meeting is intended to align the two delegations before the formal signing ceremony in Beijing [1, 2].
Chinese officials said the schedule for the state visit is confirmed [1]. The sequence of events, from the initial welcome ceremony to the final working lunch, is designed to facilitate a comprehensive bilateral dialogue between the U.S. and Chinese leadership [1, 2].
“A pre-agreement is expected to be drafted in Seoul and signed in Beijing.”
The coordination of a pre-agreement in Seoul involving Scott Bessent and He Lipeng suggests that the Beijing summit is intended as a formalization of terms already negotiated. By utilizing a third-party location for the draft, the two powers are attempting to minimize public friction before the high-profile state visit, aiming for a choreographed diplomatic success at the Temple of Heaven.
