Trump greets Xi on tarmac in rare personal welcome

President Donald Trump broke with protocol on Wednesday, traveling to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to personally greet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the tarmac as the Chinese leader arrived for a three-day state visit to Washington. The gesture, described by the Associated Press as "highly unusual," underscored the lengths the administration is going to honor Xi during his first visit to the White House in more than a decade.pbs+1

A Symbolic Start

Xi departed Beijing earlier Wednesday accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, top Communist Party official Cai Qi, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were expected to participate in an arrival ceremony at the base at 6 p.m. Eastern time.enca+1

The personal airport greeting stood in contrast to Trump's own reception during his state visit to Beijing in May, when China's vice president — not Xi — met him on the tarmac. Trump's decision to greet Xi at the base rather than receiving him at the White House showed "how far the U.S. president is going to honor China's leader," the AP reported.finance.yahoo+2

Three Days of Pomp and Substance

The visit, running from September 23 to 25, marks an exchange of presidential visits within six months. On Thursday, Xi and Peng will attend a formal welcome ceremony at the White House featuring a flyover of F-22 fighters and a B-2 bomber, followed by talks and a state banquet. The trip wraps up Friday with tea at the White House and a visit to the National Archives.reuters+2

Detente Over Breakthroughs

The spectacle appeared designed to maintain a fragile detente between Washington and Beijing rather than deliver breakthroughs on divisive issues. Trump told reporters he would be "discussing almost everything" with Xi, with the agenda expected to span trade, artificial intelligence, and the conflict involving Iran. Lawmakers have urged Trump to press Xi on reports that Chinese entities have helped Iran target U.S. troops.youtube+1

The White House called the visit "a significant milestone in the relationship between the two countries", though analysts noted the elaborate pageantry may be doing much of the diplomatic heavy lifting on its own.finance.yahoo