How the Trump-Xi summit could set superpower relations for many years to come

How the Trump-Xi summit could set superpower relations for many years to come50 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleAnthony Zurcher,North America correspondentandLaura Bicker,China correspondentBBCSecurity around Beijing's historic Tiananmen Square has been heightened for days, with rumours on social media swirling of a special parade or some big, choreographed event.Preparations for this major event have started with a whisper, but China appears ready to put on a show for US President Donald Trump.The visit will include talks, a banquet, and a visit to the Temple of Heaven, a complex of imperial temples where emperors would pray for a good harvest.And both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be hoping the visit will bear fruit. This summit between the world's two most powerful leaders is set to be one of the most consequential encounters for years.Getty ImagesThis is the first visit by a US president since Trump's last one in 2017For months, US-China relations have been a lower priority for Trump. His focus has been on the ongoing war with Iran, military operations in the Western Hemisphere and domestic concerns. But that all changes this week. The future of global trade, rising tensions in Taiwan, and competition in advanced technologies are all at stake.Economically, the ongoing trade war with the US and the conflict in Iran may be bad news for Xi, but ideologically and politically they're a gift and he will feel he has a strong hand.This visit could set the groundwork for future cooperation – or conflict – in the years ahead.The Iran whisperer?China is trying to quietly step in as a peacemaker with the war now in its third month. Beijing has joined Pakistan as a mediator in the US-Israel war against Iran.Officials in Beijing and Islamabad in March presented a five-point plan with the aim of bringing about a ceasefire and re-opening the Strait of Hormuz. And behind the scenes, Chinese officials have been gently nudging their...