BEIJING - President Donald Trump of the United States arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for pivotal discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping covering the Iran conflict, trade issues, and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

Main negotiations are set for Thursday, featuring one-on-one talks and an official dinner. China extended a grand reception to Trump, complete with a red carpet rollout following the landing of Air Force One in the capital.

Trump was met by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng, Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu, and U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, per White House reports. The event featured a military honor guard, band performance, and around 300 young Chinese flag-wavers from both nations shouting, "Welcome, welcome! Warm welcome!" as he headed to his limousine.

"We're the two superpowers," Trump remarked to journalists leaving the White House on Tuesday for the lengthy trip to Beijing. "We're the strongest nation on Earth militarily. China ranks second."

Though Trump projects power, the trip comes amid challenges to his presidency, including sagging approval ratings tied to the U.S.-Israel war against Iran and inflation surges from it. The Republican leader aims for victories via deals for China to purchase more U.S. soybeans, beef, and planes, emphasizing trade as the top focus with Xi.

The administration seeks to launch a U.S.-China Board of Trade to resolve disputes. Such a body might avert a repeat of last year's trade war, sparked by Trump's tariffs and China's rare earth restrictions, which ended in an October truce.

Trump's visit coincides with Iran's ongoing hold on his agenda. The conflict has shut down the Strait of Hormuz, halting oil and gas shipments and driving energy costs sky-high, threatening world growth. Trump stated Xi need not intervene, despite Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's recent Beijing stop.

"We have plenty to cover. Iran isn't a key item, honestly, since we've got it handled," Trump said Tuesday to reporters.

Taiwan's situation looms large too, with China opposing U.S. weapon sales to the island it views as its territory.

Trump noted Monday plans to address an $11 billion arms deal for Taiwan, approved in December but not yet delivered - the biggest package ever for the island.

Yet Trump's mixed signals on Taiwan spark doubts about potential cuts in backing for the democratic outpost.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's dominance in chip production vital for AI has boosted U.S. imports from it over China this year. Trump pushes Biden-era initiatives and his pacts to onshore more semiconductor manufacturing.

The Communist Party's People's Daily ran a sharp pre-visit editorial calling Taiwan the "first red line" in U.S.-China ties and the "biggest risk factor."

Trump framed the journey as a triumph even before takeoff, pondering Xi's upcoming U.S. visit and regretting the unfinished White House ballroom.

"We're set for a strong partnership spanning decades," Trump said of the two countries.

Trump flew out with aides, family, and tycoons like Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX. Mid-flight, he shared on social media his top ask to Xi: expand U.S. business access in China.

"I'll urge President Xi, a leader of remarkable stature, to 'open up' China so these top talents can innovate and elevate the People's Republic further!" Trump posted, anticipating a formal welcome that evening.

Belying Trump's bravado, analyst Scott Kennedy of the Center for Strategic and International Studies views China holding stronger cards.

Beijing wants eased chip tech curbs and tariff relief, among priorities.

"Even without big gains, avoiding a clash and no re-escalation leaves China ahead," Kennedy observed.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng conferred Wednesday on economics and trade at Seoul's nearby Incheon Airport, Xinhua reported.

Trump plans to float a U.S.-China-Russia nuclear pact capping arsenals, a senior official said anonymously under White House rules.

China has resisted previously. Pentagon figures put its warheads over 600, trailing the U.S. and Russia's 5,000-plus each.

New START between Russia and the U.S. lapsed in February, freeing the top arsenals from limits after decades. Trump nixed Russia's extension plea, pushing a trilateral upgrade including China.

Pentagon projections see China surpassing 1,000 warheads by 2030.

___

Boak reported from Washington. Huizhong Wu in Bangkok, Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and Kanis Leung in Hong Kong contributed reporting.