Trump Welcomes China's Xi Jinping with Warm Red Carpet and Military Flyover
US President Donald Trump has greeted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping with a military flyover and a 100-foot (30m) red carpet to kick off their three-day summit in Washington. In a rare move, Trump met China's premier at the airport as the US Air Force band marched on the tarmac and US and Chinese flags flew.
On Wednesday evening, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. This is Xi's first trip to Washington since 2015 and is expected to include closed-door meetings, a state dinner, and discussions on AI, Iran, Taiwan, and an extended trade truce.
The leader of China's Communist Party touched down in an Air China plane at 17:39 local time (22:39 BST). The color guard marched up to the aircraft and stood on both sides of the red carpet as two limos pulled up. Xi and Peng exited their plane and the two couples shook hands. They spoke briefly before walking side by side down the red carpet and posing for photos. Two B-1s flew over as the Army Air Force Band played the US national anthem.
This is the first time since 1962 that a US president has personally welcomed a foreign leader at the base, signaling the importance Trump is giving this visit. In 1962, then-President John F. Kennedy greeted British PM Harold Macmillan.
Also on Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the US and China will extend their trade truce to January. The agreement, which saw Trump lower tariff rates on some goods in exchange for Xi loosening restrictions on rare earth minerals, was set to expire October 10. Bessent said the two discussed a more substantive trade deal between the countries.
In a written statement published by China's state news agency Xinhua, Xi said both countries should be partners rather than rivals:
"The two countries should be partners rather than rivals," Xi said.
Melania Trump has been involved intimately with the planning of the itinerary, telling Fox News that Trump made the decision to personally greet Xi "because they have a great relationship." Xi is accompanied on the visit by Cai Q.