US President Donald Trump began a crucial visit to China, marking his seventh face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping since their first encounter in April 2017. This three-day summit, taking place from May 13 to 15, comes at a time of heightened tensions over trade, technology, and geopolitical issues, including the US-Israel conflict over Iran and Taiwan's status. Trump expressed optimism about his relationship with Xi, calling it 'fantastic,' despite the ongoing rivalry that has characterized their interactions. Since their initial meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, the relationship has fluctuated between cordiality and confrontation, particularly with the onset of the US-China trade war in 2017, which was fueled by accusations of intellectual property theft and unfair trade practices. The trade war saw both nations impose significant tariffs on each other's goods, leading to a series of negotiations and temporary agreements, including the 'phase one' trade deal that ultimately fell short of its goals. After a six-year hiatus in face-to-face meetings, Trump and Xi reconvened in October 2025, where they announced a pause in their trade conflict. The upcoming summit in Beijing is particularly significant given the current unstable geopolitical landscape, with Trump indicating that trade discussions will take precedence. The outcome of this meeting could have far-reaching implications for US-China relations moving forward.