Xi Jinping Lands in the U.S. for the First Time in Three Years; Trump Gives an 'Airport Welcome' for the First Time in 11 Years

[Financial News, New York — Reporter Lee Byung-chul]  Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States on the 23rd (local time). It was Xi's first visit to the United States in about three years and his first visit to Washington in more than a decade. In an unusual move, U.S. President Donald Trump personally went to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to greet Xi. One day before a summit where key U.S.-China issues—including trade, rare earths, artificial intelligence (AI), Taiwan and Iran—are set to be discussed, the two leaders began three days of diplomatic engagement.
President Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, welcomed Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on the runway at Joint Base Andrews. A red carpet measuring about 100 feet (30 meters) was laid beside Xi's plane. The two leaders smiled, shook hands and spoke for several minutes. A military band performed, a gun salute followed, and a Rockwell B-1 Lancer strategic bomber flew overhead.
Trump's decision to go personally to the air base was particularly unusual and differed from customary U.S. protocol for receiving visiting heads of state. Reuters reported that it had been 11 years since a sitting U.S. president personally welcomed a foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews, when then-President Barack Obama received Pope Francis in 2015.
Xi Jinping will remain in the United States through the 25th. Trump and Xi will hold an official summit at the White House on the 24th. The White House will host a separate official welcome ceremony and military honors ceremony, followed by a state dinner in the evening.
Progress came first on trade, one day before the summit. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Fox News that he and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng had agreed to extend the U.S.-China trade truce, which was due to expire on Nov. 10, by two months through Jan. 10 next year. In effect, the two countries have put off the possibility of a renewed tariff war ahead of the summit.
More sensitive issues, however, await the leaders at the summit. In addition to trade, rare earths, U.S. export controls on advanced technologies, Taiwan, Iran and AI are expected to be key agenda items. China is expected to strongly raise the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, while the United States continues to maintain export controls on advanced technologies. The two countries have also been discussing the creation of a separate dialogue channel on AI.


[email protected] Reporter Lee Byung-chul Reporter