Xi Jinping arrives in US after decade, Trump gives grand airport welcome

In a development of major significance for world politics and economics, Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in the United States on a political visit after a gap of as long as 10 years. Recognising the importance of the visit, US President Donald Trump set aside usual diplomatic protocol and personally went to the airport to welcome Xi. Ordinarily, the US president receives foreign leaders at the White House, but Trump's decision to go straight to the tarmac to honour the Chinese president has become a talking point worldwide.

As the Chinese president's special aircraft landed at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington D.C., Trump, along with US First Lady Melania Trump, warmly welcomed Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan. A US military band played the national anthems of both countries in salute. A special attraction of the welcome was an aerial flypast by US Air Force F-22 and F-16 fighter jets as well as B-1 bombers. The grand reception is seen as a clear signal that the US wants to restart its relationship with China.

Relations between the two superpowers, the US and China, have remained tense since the start of Donald Trump's second term. Dialogue between the two countries had slowed due to the Trump administration's tariff increases on China, competition in the technology sector and the trade war. In addition, the Iran war in the Middle East and the strategic rift over the Taiwan issue had also raised questions over global security. In this complicated situation, Xi Jinping's three-day visit to the US is being seen as decisive. According to global experts, Trump's personal gesture of going to the tarmac is a major step towards easing the economic and strategic tensions between the two countries.

Xi Jinping's visit is packed with events. On the second day of the visit, Thursday, a grand state banquet has been organised at the White House in honour of Xi and his delegation, to be attended by senior cabinet ministers of the Trump administration, leading American industrialists, technology sector CEOs and several global guests. Before the banquet, Trump and Xi will hold a closed-door bilateral summit in the Oval Office. On the final day of the visit, the two leaders will join their wives for an informal tea at the White House, after which they will visit the National Archives in Washington, where the historic US Declaration of Independence is preserved.

The meeting is expected to see in-depth discussion on trade and tariffs, artificial intelligence (AI), the Iran war in the Middle East and global security. The US and China are locked in intense competition for dominance in AI and semiconductors. According to international analysts, a major deal on AI technology is unlikely at this meeting, as both countries regard the technology as central to their national security and military capability. Even so, the two leaders are expected to reach positive agreement on opening trade routes, halting reciprocal tariff hikes, and safeguarding global oil supply and security during the Iran war.