In brief
Donald Trump personally welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, using a 100‑foot red carpet and a military fly‑over as a dramatic opening for the summit. Xi arrived on an Air China aircraft surrounded by a party delegation and was greeted by Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and the Army Air Force Band. The visit will address AI policy, the Iran conflict, Taiwan tensions and an extended trade pact that involves tariff swaps and rare‑earth trade. Trump dismissed recent warnings about the dangers of AI, while the U.S. and China race for regional and global influence. The historic ceremony underlines the Biden administration’s shift toward high‑profile engagement with China, following a 2022–2026 poll that shows America warming to cooperation with Beijing.
Former United States President Donald Trump greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland with a 100‑foot red carpet, a U.S. Air Force band, and a fly‑over by two B‑1 bombers, signalling the heightened significance of the first visit to Washington since 2015.
The ceremony—unique among U.S. presidents since John F. Kennedy in 1962—featured Xi arriving on an Air China Boeing aircraft at 17:39 local time. An honour guard stood along the carpet, and Xi, his wife Peng Liyuan and a party delegation exited the plane and shook hands with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. The scene was accompanied by the U.S. Army Air Force Band playing the national anthem while two B‑1 aircraft flew overhead, underscoring the military dimension of the welcome.
Following the arrival, the summit will address a wide range of strategic issues, from artificial intelligence and the Iran conflict to Taiwan and an extension of the trade truce that began in 2023. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a tariff‑swap agreement with China that extends through January, aiming to reduce U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods in return for increased rare‑earth mineral supplies.
Xi’s statement released by Xinhua called for partnership rather than rivalry and echoed Trump’s belief that the two governments can cooperate for common goals. The U.S. and China also race toward dominance in AI, with Trump dismissing industry warnings about its dangers while the United States seeks to maintain open trade.
The visit concludes with visits to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art and the National Archives, meant to strengthen cultural and historic ties between the two nations.
