US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping, who arrived in Washington for an official visit, at Joint Base Andrews. The plane carrying Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan landed at the base near Washington.
Trump's personal welcome of the Chinese leader on the tarmac drew attention, as it is considered outside the standard protocol for US presidents to greet foreign counterparts at the airport. This move was interpreted as a sign of the protocol weight given to the Beijing administration.
Xi Jinping's Washington visit, covering the dates of September 23-25, marks the first state visit to the US capital at the level of Chinese presidency in over 10 years.
According to the White House schedule, the two leaders will meet again at an official welcoming ceremony on September 24. Following the military ceremony and bilateral talks, a state dinner will be held in honor of Xi. On the final day of the visit, Trump and Xi are scheduled to visit the National Archives.
Economic and trade relations are expected to be among the main agenda items in the talks. Mutual customs tariffs, the rare earth elements supply chain, semiconductors, and restrictions in the field of artificial intelligence are among the topics the leaders will address.
The Taiwan issue, China-Iran relations, and developments in the Middle East are also expected to be brought up during the contacts. The visit takes place at a time when disagreements persist between Washington and Beijing over trade, technology competition, and regional security issues.
News Source: 12punto
