Trump greets Xi with red carpet, bombers, trade, tech, Iran on agenda
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday received a red-carpet welcome from US President Donald Trump with cannon fire and a bomber flyover,as he arrived in Washington on a state visit.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said direct engagement between Washington and Beijing is essential despite deep disagreements, and argued their relationship will “define the 21st century”.
Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan were personally received by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Joint Base Andrews after they landed for the three-day state visit.
Media reports stated that the elaborate reception is being organized by the White House.
Trump and Xi due will hold bilateral talks on Thursday as Washington and Beijing navigate tensions over trade, technology and critical minerals.
Media reports have also identified Taiwan and Iran among the issues to be discussed which is putting pressure on the relationship.
Xi’s Air China aircraft landed at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday evening before the Chinese President and Peng emerged to a 100-foot red carpet, cited in the media.
Trump and Xi stood together between US and Chinese flags as a US Air Force band played and ceremonial cannon fire sounded. Two B-1 bombers flew overhead.
The airport reception itself was notable. Trump personally greeting a visiting foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews is a rare protocol move.
Trump described the reception as a “great greeting”.
“That was a great greeting, and I think they appreciate it,” Trump told reporters.
The welcome opens Xi’s first trip to the US in three years.
The visit is also the second reciprocal meeting between Trump and Xi within 6 months, after Trump’s trip to China in May.
Trump and Xi are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office before an expanded meeting involvied their delegations.
Trade is expected to be the focus of their bilateral talks.
Both sides have been operating under a trade truce, while questions over tariffs, technology and supplies of rare earths remain central to the economic relationship.
Artificial intelligence is another area under scrutiny as the two powers compete over advanced technology, media reports stated.
The talks are also taking place against wider geopolitical strains involving Taiwan and Iran.
Trump did not spell out his position when asked whether Iran would come up in his talks with X,.
“We’ll see. I’ll be talking about that and many other subjects,” he said.
Rubio defended Trump’s decision to engage Xi at the highest level despite the disputes between Washington and Beijing.
“The relationship between the United States and China will define the 21st century,” Rubio said during the United Nations General Assembly.
He argued that direct communication was necessary between the world’s two largest economies even when their governments strongly disagreed.
“That doesn’t mean we don’t have strong disagreements; of course we do,” Rubio said.
He identified trade, supply chains and critical minerals among the areas of disagreement.
Rubio declined to provide a detailed agenda for Trump’s talks with Xi, said the two leaders would discuss issues they considered relevant.
The programme will include a formal arrival ceremony, military honours and a state dinner on Thursday.
The supplied White House schedule said 479 military personnel from across the US armed forces will participate in the ceremonies.
Trump and Xi are due to deliver remarks before taking part in a military review.
A B-2 Spirit bomber and four F-22 Raptors are scheduled for the concluding flyover.
Trump and Melania will host Xi and Peng for a state dinner in the White House East Room on Thursday evening.
He said leading figures from the technology and banking industries would be among those attending, media reported.
“The entire tech world, the entire banking world, and a lot more will be in attendance at tomorrow night’s state dinner for Chinese President Xi,” Trump said. “I wish we had more seats.”
On Friday, they are scheduled to visit the National Archives before Xi’s departure.
Trump hosted Xi in the US at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in April 2017.
Trump travelled to Beijing later that year.
He visited China in May 2026. During that visit, both presidents agreed that Xi would travel to Washington later in the year.
