China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States late on Wednesday evening, the 23rd, and received an unusually cordial reception from Donald Trump. The American leader went to meet his counterpart still on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, outside Washington, rather than awaiting his arrival at the White House. The welcoming ceremony featured a red carpet and a military band.
Trump waited for Xi at the foot of the airplane stairs, where the two leaders exchanged greetings. The reception underscored the American’s effort to honor the Chinese leader, who visits the United States for the first time in more than a decade.
Trump and Xi are expected to discuss issues such as artificial intelligence (AI), trade, rare earths, semiconductors, and Taiwan. It is possible that the two may also discuss the wars in Iran and Ukraine.
The state visit is expected to last three days. The White House’s official schedule begins on Thursday, the 24th, with a welcoming ceremony for the Chinese president and his wife, Peng Liyuan. In the evening, Trump will host a state dinner for the Chinese delegation.
On Friday, the 25th, the Chinese president and Peng are expected to return to the seat of the American government for a meeting with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Afterwards, the two couples will visit the National Archives of the United States.
Xi’s visit comes amid negotiations between the world’s two largest economies to preserve a trade truce and reduce tensions in areas such as technology and trade. The truce was reached in 2025 and consolidated during Trump’s visit to China, in May this year.
The current trade truce remains in effect until November, while the two governments continue negotiating points of conflict.
*With information from international agencies.
