Republican senator to lead bipartisan delegation to China next week; visit will begin on May 1, with stops planned in Shanghai and Beijing
4-MIN READ4-MIN ListenKhushboo Razdanin WashingtonPublished: 6:18am, 24 Apr 2026US President Donald Trump’s close ally, Senator Steve Daines, will lead a bipartisan delegation to China next week, according to sources, even as Washington steps up pressure on Beijing over trade, technological competition, and its ties to Iran, ahead of a closely watched leaders’ summit on May 14-15.According to people familiar who requested anonymity, the five-member delegation led by Daines, a Republican from Montana, will begin its visit on May 1, with stops in Shanghai and Beijing.
While the full composition of the delegation has not been disclosed, one source said that several members are expected to be visiting the mainland for the first time.
Daines’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets US Senator Daines: calls for frankness, deeper trust
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets US Senator Daines: calls for frankness, deeper trustLast month, Daines, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, said at a public event that the trip will focus on China’s infrastructure and “innovation ecosystem” and will include a ride on China’s high-speed rail network.
