US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, amidst growing tensions over trade, artificial intelligence, and the escalating conflict in Iran. As the two leaders prepare to meet, security has been tightened in the Chinese capital, with a focus on maintaining a clean and presentable image for the visiting dignitary. However, the efforts to clear the skies of pollution ahead of Trump's visit are a far cry from the city's current state, with Beijing's air quality expected to be significantly worse than it was during Trump's previous visit in 2017. The summit comes at a critical time, with major issues such as trade, AI, and the war in Iran expected to dominate the talks, setting the stage for a potentially tumultuous meeting between the two global leaders.
Ahead of the crucial talks, security has been heightened in Beijing, with trade, AI and the war in Iran set to dominate the meeting between the two leadersTrump lands in China for high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping as Iran war looms over talksExplainer: five key issues on the table at summitDonald Trump will drive through a Chinese capital that is smoggier than it was on his last visit in 2017, when the authorities launched emergency measures to clear the skies of pollution days before his first state visit to Beijing.Factories were ordered to halt production and heavily polluting cars were banned from the roads in the days ahead of the US president’s trip nearly a decade ago, an era in which China had declared war on air pollution and made special efforts to clear the skies ahead of important political events such as visiting dignitaries and the Beijing Olympics. Continue reading...
