US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States on Wednesday at the start of a three‑day visit focused on security, trade and technology.
Trump took the step of greeting Xi in person at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, becoming the first US president in recent memory to do so, reports Al Jazeera.
The president and First Lady Melania Trump met Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on the tarmac during a welcoming ceremony, where a red carpet was rolled out and the couples exchanged handshakes. The two leaders then walked side by side, flanked by US soldiers, before standing for a gunfire salute and the national anthem.
In a written statement after his arrival, Xi said China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals, according to the state‑run Xinhua news agency. He added that “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand, complement each other and benefit the world.”
The rare in‑person greeting underscored Washington’s emphasis on its relationship with Beijing, whose rapid economic rise has positioned it as a global power capable of challenging US influence.
Despite tensions over tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and retaliatory measures from Beijing, Trump has expressed personal affinity for Xi and a desire for strong ties.
Xi’s programme in the US includes a state dinner attended by leaders of the technology industry, a military ceremony at the White House, and a visit to the National Archives, home to historic documents such as the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
The two sides remain cautious as they compete for political and economic influence. Discussions are expected to cover the US war on Iran, trade, technology, rare‑earth minerals, and U.S. ties with Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that Washington and Beijing had agreed to extend the 11‑month Busan Agreement, which provided temporary relief from tariffs. He told Fox News that he met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng ahead of Xi’s visit to explore the possibility of a broader deal.
“We have agreed today that we will extend what we call the Busan Agreement,” Bessent said, noting that the accord, originally set to expire November 10, will now run until January 10.
