Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States on the 23rd (local time) and kicked off a three-day state visit.

According to U.S. media outlet CNN and others, President Xi departed from Beijing aboard his special aircraft and arrived at Andrews Joint Base in Maryland on the afternoon of the same day. President Xi was accompanied by his wife, Peng Liyuan. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump personally greeted President Xi and his wife as they stepped off the plane. The Trump and Xi couples exchanged greetings with bright smiles and handshakes.

It is unusual diplomatic protocol for a U.S. president to personally go out to the airport tarmac to welcome a foreign leader rather than waiting for them at the White House. Fox News reported that "this is the first time a U.S. president has personally welcomed a foreign leader at the airport since 1962."

A red carpet was rolled out at the airport, and a U.S. military band was also deployed. The Associated Press evaluated that "President Trump personally meeting President Xi at the airport demonstrates the exceptionally high level of courtesy he intends to provide to the Chinese leader, who is making a state visit to the U.S. for the first time in about 10 years." This welcome also serves as a return courtesy for the grand protocol provided by President Xi during President Trump's state visit to China last May.

At that time in Beijing, a red carpet was laid out in front of Air Force One (the presidential aircraft), alongside a military honor guard, a military band, and about 300 youths waving U.S. and Chinese flags. However, President Xi did not go to the airport personally at that time; instead, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng greeted President Trump. This time, President Trump welcomed President Xi himself, orchestrating the highest level of hospitality from day one.

The two leaders will hold a summit at the White House on the 24th and attend a state dinner at the White House that same evening. During the summit, the two leaders will discuss tariffs, rare earths, and artificial intelligence (AI) as major agenda items. On the morning of the 25th, a reception will be held at the White House, followed by a joint visit to the U.S. National Archives in Washington, D.C., to review the history of bilateral relations.

This marks the first time in 11 years that President Xi has visited the U.S. in a state capacity, since 2015 during the presidency of Barack Obama. Following the inauguration of the second Trump administration, this is the third face-to-face meeting between the two leaders, following meetings in Busan last October and Beijing this May.

[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]