Kathmandu. US President Donald Trump will visit China from May 13 to 15, Beijing confirmed on Monday. Washington and Beijing are at loggerheads over key issues ranging from tariffs to the Middle East war and Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.

Trump was due to travel in late March or early April, but has previously postponed the trip to focus on the Iran war. US President Donald J Trump will pay a state visit to China from May 13 to 15 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

According to US officials, Trump is expected to pressure Xi to curb uranium enrichment and end the war on Iran in a bid to ease trade tensions. China is a major customer for Iranian oil. Mainly, it imports large quantities of crude oil from Iran at a special discounted rate.

“It’s going to be a very symbolic visit,” Anna Kelly, the principal assistant press secretary, told reporters. “Of course, President Trump will never travel just for symbolism,” he said. The American people can expect the president to make a better deal on behalf of our country. ”

Trump’s first visit to China in his second term will include a visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and a lavish state banquet, the White House said. This is the first visit of a US president to China since 2017.