Briefing|Two of the World’s Most Powerful Men Are About to Meet

Soon after Air Force One landed today in Beijing, President Trump walked down a red carpet onto the tarmac, where he was welcomed by a military band, an honor guard, hundreds of people waving Chinese and American flags and China’s vice president. It was a public display of warmth ahead of a high-stakes summit between two countries frequently at odds with each other.

Meetings between Trump and China’s leader, Xi Jinping, are scheduled to begin later tonight, which is Thursday morning in China. Their likely agenda is broad — including tariffs, Taiwan, sanctions, purchases of American farm products and the A.I. race — though expectations for a major deal are low.

It will be interesting to see if Trump presses Xi on China’s relationship with Iran. My colleagues reported today that Chinese companies have been secretly discussing arms sales with Iran. China also dominates the production of rare-earth minerals that the U.S. needs to rebuild its supply of missiles.

For more: Trump was joined on the trip by three top cabinet officials, more than a dozen corporate executives — and his middle son, Eric Trump, who now runs the family business.