Trump rolls out red carpet for Xi Jinping as three-day US visit begins

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, receiving an unusually elaborate

WASHINGTON: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, receiving an unusually elaborate welcome from US President Donald Trump at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump personally greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on the airport tarmac, marking an uncommon departure from the usual protocol of receiving visiting foreign leaders at the White House. A 100-foot red carpet was laid out for the arrival ceremony, which featured US and Chinese flags, military formations and national anthems.

The ceremony also included a ceremonial cannon salute and a flyover by two US Air Force B-1B bombers. Military personnel from the different US services participated in the formal welcome, adding to the highly ceremonial nature of Xi’s arrival.

Trump and Xi briefly spoke after the Chinese leader arrived before the two delegations went their separate ways. Xi then headed toward Washington, where the main events of his state visit are scheduled to take place.

The three-day visit, running from September 23 to 25, comes more than a decade after Xi’s previous visit to Washington. The two leaders are expected to hold formal talks on a range of sensitive bilateral and international issues, including trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, critical minerals and the conflict involving Iran.

A formal state arrival ceremony at the White House and a state dinner are scheduled for Thursday, followed by further engagements before Xi’s departure on Friday. The visit comes as Washington and Beijing seek to manage continuing differences over trade and technology while maintaining dialogue between the two countries.