Xi arrives in US to personal Trump welcome

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. This marked a rare personal airport welcome for the two world leaders, as Trump had been previously denied this courtesy during his visit to Beijing in May.

The greeting, complete with a military band and flyovers by B-1 bombers, initiated a three-day state visit aimed at easing tensions between the superpowers, particularly regarding artificial intelligence, trade, and Iran. The ceremony, attended by Chinese officials including Cai Qi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, was observed by US officials as they rolled out a lavish display of hospitality.

Despite low expectations for breakthroughs, the visit sought to maintain a fragile diplomatic and trade truce. The talks would tackle several pressing issues, with AI safety and ongoing trade tensions being the most significant. The visit concluded on Friday with a tea ceremony at the White House and a visit to the National Archives.