Trump offers warm welcome as China's Xi arrives for US visit

U.S. President Donald Trump warmly welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping upon his arrival for a three-day summit in Washington. The event kicked off with a military flyover and a 100-foot (30-meter) red carpet at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Trump personally met Xi at the airport, marking a rare occurrence since 1962 when President John F. Kennedy greeted British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.

The high-stakes visit, Xi's first to Washington since 2015, is expected to include closed-door meetings, a state dinner, and discussions on a range of topics, including AI, the Iran war, Taiwan, and economic matters.

Upon landing, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan exited their plane and shook hands with the two couples of U.S. presidents. They proceeded to pose for photos and departed in separate vehicles to Washington. The visit signals the importance Trump attributes to the meeting, as it is the first time since 1962 that a U.S. president has personally greeted a foreign leader at the base.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the U.S. and China will extend their trade truce to January. The agreement, initially set to expire on November 10, saw Trump lower tariff rates on some goods in exchange for Xi loosening restrictions on rare earth minerals. Bessent mentioned that both nations discussed the possibility of a more substantial trade deal between the two countries.

Xi, in a written statement published by China's state news agency Xinhua, emphasized that both China and the U.S. are "great nations, and their people are great people." He urged the countries to be partners rather than rivals, stating that their cooperation can benefit the world. Xi also expressed confidence that the visit would yield fruitful results.