BEIJING — President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday evening for talks with President Xi Jinping on the Iran war and other bilateral issues. An opening ceremony and meeting will be held Thursday morning, and the trip will conclude on Friday, spokesperson Anna Kelly said.

The trip was initially scheduled for earlier this year but was postponed in March due to the U.S.-Israel war on Iran. The United States plans to host Xi during a reciprocal visit later this year.

An administration official said Trump could apply pressure to China on Iran in areas such as oil sales and Tehran's purchase of potential dual-role military-civilian goods. Trump could also raise China's support for Russia, trade, and rare earth minerals during the talks.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused China of funding Iran. "Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, and China has been buying 90 percent of their energy, so they are funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism," Bessent said.

Beijing has refused to recognize Washington's unilateral sanctions on Iran's oil sector. China hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arraghchi last week, and has said it wants to see the Iran war end.

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S.-Israeli attacks, restricting passage through a key artery of global energy transport. The United States is dealing with domestic and international effects of the Iran war, and disruptions stemming from the conflict have affected the global economy.

Kelly said the trip would focus on rebalancing the relationship with China and prioritizing reciprocity and fairness to restore American economic independence. Business executives from Boeing and several agricultural companies will travel with the U.S. delegation.

An administration official said no change is expected regarding the U.S. stance on Taiwan. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory, while the United States has security and economic commitments to the island.