Trump to Personally Welcome Xi in Washington

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — U.S. President Donald Trump is set to personally welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews when Xi arrives in the Washington area next week for a high-profile state visit, in a rare protocol gesture by a U.S. president.

Xi is expected to arrive on Wednesday, September 23, ahead of talks with Trump at the White House on September 24. Trump’s decision to greet Xi at the airport marks a departure from the usual practice of receiving visiting foreign leaders at the White House.

The visit will include a formal arrival ceremony at the White House, a military review in the Rose Garden and a state dinner hosted by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Senior U.S. officials said a number of leading technology executives are expected to attend the dinner.

Trade, rare-earth supplies and artificial intelligence are expected to be among the major issues discussed by the two leaders. The summit comes as Washington and Beijing continue efforts to manage tensions over trade and technology while seeking greater stability in their bilateral relationship.

The upcoming meeting will be the second face-to-face encounter between Trump and Xi this year, following Trump’s visit to Beijing in May. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng is also scheduled to hold preparatory economic and trade talks with U.S. officials ahead of the summit.