Trump-Xi summit set for May 14-15 in Beijing; US CEOs including Musk and Cook invited

Washington/Beijing, May 12. US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a two-day summit in Beijing on May 14-15, 2026. The meeting is being billed as the most consequential bilateral engagement of Trump's second term.

A broad agenda

The agenda includes trade, rare earth export controls, Taiwan tensions, the Iran war, AI cooperation, and the Russia-Ukraine peace effort. The summit could be decisive in defusing the ongoing trade war between the two countries.

A CEO entourage

Trump has invited a number of leading US CEOs for the trip — Tesla's Elon Musk, Apple's Tim Cook, BlackRock's Larry Fink, alongside top executives from Boeing, Goldman Sachs and Nvidia. Major deal announcements on the sidelines are possible.

Putin to follow in Beijing

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected in Beijing around May 18. Dozens of foreign leaders have visited Beijing in the first five months of 2026, underlining China's growing role as a global diplomatic hub.

Taiwan concerns

Tensions over Taiwan have simmered for years. The Trump administration recently approved new defence sales to Taipei, while China has stepped up military drills in the strait. Both sides are expected to issue temperature-lowering statements during the summit.

AI and semiconductors

AI and chip export controls will also feature. American restrictions on advanced chips and AI models bound for China remain a top Beijing grievance. The presence of US semiconductor and AI CEOs raises hopes of some concessions.