Trump personally welcomes Xi Jinping's visit to the United States, and the high-profile ceremony of the US military attracts attention

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington in the early morning of the 24th Taiwan time (the evening of the 23rd Eastern Time). US President Trump and First Lady Melania personally went to Joint Base Andrews to greet him. A rare large formation was set up at the scene to welcome Xi Jinping and his wife with a grand military salute. There were more than 10 F-16 and F-22 fighter jets and 4 gun salutes at the scene.

According to comprehensive media reports, Xi Jinping's special plane arrived in the United States at 5:40 a.m. on the 24th, Taiwan time, for a three-day visit. Beforehand, Trump and first lady Melania Trump took a Marine Corps Helicopter 1 from the White House to Joint Base Andrews to meet Xi Jinping in person.

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According to past practice, foreign leaders are usually received at the airport by lower-level officials and meet with the US president only after arriving at the White House. Therefore, this arrangement is extremely rare. The last time a US president personally visited the base to greet a foreign leader was in 1962 when then-President John F. Kennedy greeted British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.

In addition to welcoming them in person, a red carpet was also laid out at the scene, and Xi Jinping and his wife were greeted with grand military salutes, including the playing of the national anthems of the two countries, a 21-gun salute by the U.S. Army, and U.S. military aircraft flying over Joint Base Andrews, including two B-1 supersonic bombers. After the welcome ceremony, the Trumps and his wife watched Xi Jinping and his wife drive away before leaving the scene.

There are also two large photo booths set up on site for the US and Chinese media, as well as four welcome salute guns, and at least 12 US military fighter jets are parked, including F-16 and the US military's most advanced F-22 fighter jets. In addition, there were also a large number of uniformed U.S. military personnel at the scene, and about a dozen American television interview teams gathered. In addition to the major television networks, there were also a large number of media from the conservative and pro-"Make America Great Again" (MAGA) camp.

According to the plan, Trump and Melania will hold an arrival ceremony for Xi Jinping and his wife at the White House on the morning of the 24th. Trump and Xi Jinping will deliver speeches, followed by a military parade in the Rose Garden. Trump and Xi will then hold bilateral talks. It is expected that the two sides will discuss issues such as artificial intelligence (AI), trade, tariffs, and the Iran war. Some people also predict that the Taiwan issue may be mentioned.

On the evening of the 24th, Trump and Melania will also hold a state dinner in the East Room of the White House to welcome Xi Jinping and his entourage. According to previous statements by U.S. officials, many U.S. business leaders will also attend the dinner. On the morning of the 25th, the Trumps and his wife will once again welcome Xi Jinping and his wife at the White House and have a tea ceremony in the Red Room of the White House. Afterwards they will visit the National Archives.

This is also Xi Jinping’s second visit to the United States after three years (he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco in 2023). It is also the second meeting between the heads of state of the United States and China after the Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing in May. This visit is Xi Jinping’s first state visit to the United States in 11 years since September 2015. Personnel accompanying Xi Jinping on this visit include Xi Jinping’s wife Peng Liyuan, Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, etc.