President Donald Trump personally welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States Wednesday evening, making the unusual decision to meet the Chinese leader on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews as Xi began a three-day state visit to Washington.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump waited at the bottom of the stairs as Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, exited their Air China aircraft. The two couples greeted one another on a roughly 100-foot red carpet while a military band played nearby.
The personal airport greeting represented a rare diplomatic gesture. American presidents generally receive foreign leaders at the White House rather than traveling to the airport to meet their planes, although similar welcomes have occasionally been extended to visiting popes and other prominent guests.
The arrival ceremony also included a flyover by two B-1 bombers. The White House has described Xi’s trip as a reciprocal visit following Trump’s state visit to China in May, when the two leaders held talks in Beijing.
Xi’s visit comes as Washington and Beijing attempt to manage disputes involving trade, artificial intelligence, critical minerals and Taiwan. China’s relationship with Iran and Russia is also expected to factor into discussions between the two governments.
The visit follows months of negotiations over trade. The two countries have made uneven progress on commitments reached earlier this year, including Chinese purchases of American agricultural products and aircraft, tariff issues and efforts to establish additional economic dialogue.
Trump and Xi are scheduled to hold formal talks Thursday after a White House arrival ceremony. The event will feature hundreds of U.S. military personnel, national anthems, ceremonial military units and a separate flyover involving a B-2 Spirit bomber and four F-22 fighter jets.
Trump and Melania will then host Xi and Peng at a state dinner in the East Room. The guest list includes several major technology executives as the two governments discuss issues involving AI, semiconductor technology and the broader economic relationship between the countries.
Xi’s trip marks his first state visit to Washington in more than a decade. His previous U.S. state visit took place in 2015 during the Obama administration, while Trump’s May trip to Beijing provided the backdrop for this week’s reciprocal visit.
The visit is scheduled to conclude Friday after Trump and Melania host Xi and Peng for a private tea. The two couples are then expected to visit the National Archives to view historical documents connected to the relationship between the United States and China before Xi departs the country.
The post Trump Personally Greets China’s Xi at Airport as High-Stakes US Visit Begins appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
