The US conceded to China on the status of Xi Jinping's visit

MOSCOW, September 23 - RIA Novosti. Beijing and Washington were arguing over whether Chinese President Xi Jinping's trip to the United States would be considered a state visit accompanied by honorary ceremonies before the White House conceded on the issue, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources.

Chinese President Xi Jinping departs on Wednesday for his first state visit to the United States in 11 years amid trade tensions and geopolitical tensions between the two countries, with Beijing calling the exchange of visits by the two leaders within six months a "historic milestone."

"Chinese leader Xi Jinping wanted his upcoming trip to the United States to be treated as a state visit - the highest level of diplomatic ceremonial... The two sides argued over what to call the trip before Washington granted Beijing's request," the publication said, citing sources involved in the preparations for the event.

As the Wall Street Journal notes, the state visit is expected to be accompanied by a ceremony involving an honor guard, a gun salute and an official greeting on the White House lawn. According to a senior US official, Trump is giving Xi Jinping the same kind of gala reception that he was given when he met in Beijing in May.