BEIJING (AFP)

Donald Trump is due in Beijing Wednesday for the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade.

This week's trip -- the first since Trump visited in 2017 -- will involve high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday and Friday, during a packed itinerary that includes a state banquet and tea reception.

China's controls on rare earth exports and the countries' raucous trade relationship are among the topics expected to be taken up by the heads of the world's top two economies. The war in the Middle East will also top the agenda.

China's major surplus in trade with the United States has long irked Trump, who slapped tariffs on the country's goods during his first term in office.

Trump will be accompanied in China by a large group of top US business executives, including Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Tim Cook, the White House has said.

The war in Iran -- launched by the United States and Israel on February 28 -- has presented new challenges in the already-complicated relationship between Beijing and Washington. Trump delayed his trip to China once due to the conflict, which has effectively halted shipping through the crucial Strait of Hormuz for more than two months. China is the top customer for Iran's oil.

"I think we'll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi," Trump said on Monday when asked about the upcoming visit.