WEBDESK - NAYADAUR
U.S. President Donald Trump personally welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, opening a three-day state visit expected to focus on trade, technology, Taiwan and wider geopolitical tensions.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, after the Chinese leader arrived at the Maryland military base aboard an Air China aircraft at 5:39 p.m. local time. The welcome featured a red carpet, an honor guard, the U.S. Air Force Band and a military flyover. The White House confirmed that Trump personally greeted Xi at Joint Base Andrews on Sept. 23 before the formal state arrival ceremony at the White House on Thursday.
The leaders and their wives briefly exchanged greetings before walking along the red carpet and posing for photographs. A pair of B-1 bombers flew overhead during the ceremony.
The unusually prominent airport welcome underscored the importance attached to Xi’s visit. Reuters reported that it was the first time in 11 years that a U.S. president had greeted a foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews.
Xi’s visit, running from Sept. 23 to 25, is the Chinese president’s first trip to the United States since 2015, according to the White House and Reuters.
Trade truce extended to January
Hours before Xi’s arrival, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington and Beijing had agreed to extend their existing trade truce until Jan. 10.
The arrangement had been scheduled to expire Nov. 10. Bessent said the additional two months would provide more time for the two countries to work on a broader economic agreement.
The extension follows talks between Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and comes as Trump and Xi prepare to discuss tariffs, agricultural purchases, rare-earth minerals and other economic issues.
The two sides also face disagreements over implementation of existing commitments, including Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products and supplies of critical minerals.
Taiwan, AI and Iran on agenda
Trade is only one part of a broader agenda.
Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive issues in U.S.-China relations. Reuters reported ahead of the visit that Xi was expected to press Trump over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, while Washington continues to maintain its policy of supporting the island’s self-defense under U.S. law.
Artificial intelligence is another major area of discussion. U.S. and Chinese officials have been working on mechanisms for dialogue over AI-related risks, while both countries continue to compete over advanced technology and computing capabilities.
The wider conflict involving Iran is also expected to feature in discussions, with both governments facing economic and strategic interests affected by developments in the Middle East. Reuters has identified trade, Taiwan, Iran and AI as key issues surrounding the summit.
Xi calls for partnership
In a written statement carried by Chinese state media, Xi said China and the United States were “great nations” and argued that the two countries should be partners rather than rivals.
He also expressed confidence that the visit would produce results and said cooperation between the two countries could coexist with their respective national development goals.
The formal state visit continues Thursday with a White House arrival ceremony involving hundreds of U.S. military personnel, followed by official engagements and a state dinner. The White House said the ceremony will include military demonstrations and a flyover featuring a B-2 bomber and four F-22 Raptors.
Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan are also scheduled to visit the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, while the visit is due to conclude Friday with the two couples visiting the National Archives.
The summit comes as Washington and Beijing seek to manage persistent differences while maintaining a period of relative stability in their economic relationship. The trade-truce extension provides additional time for negotiations, but major disagreements over Taiwan, technology and broader strategic policy remain on the agenda.