Trump welcomes Xi Jinping to the White House: state visit with a focus on AI and trade relations

US President Donald Trump received Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House with much pomp for a state visit. Trump and First Lady Melania greeted Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan to the sound of a military band. They then walked over a red carpet into the White House.

It is Xi's first visit to Washington in more than a decade and the second meeting this year between the leaders of the world's two largest economies. During Xi's last visit to the White House, then-President Barack Obama welcomed him.

According to observers, Trump and Xi are trying to demonstrate stable relations and friendship despite a variety of sensitive issues such as trade, Taiwan, Iran and artificial intelligence.

Trump announces decisions about AI

Trump said in his welcoming speech that he would discuss pressing issues with Xi. These included security, technology and “superintelligence” – this is the term the 80-year-old uses to describe AI. The US President stated that there would be decisions in this area.

At the beginning of the visit, the USA had already announced an extension of the pause in the customs dispute. The question arises as to whether this will perhaps be the most important result of the meeting, speculated former US diplomat and China expert Jeff Moon. So far, the gathering has offered a lot of pomp and splendor, but little substance.

Trump highlighted his personal friendship with Xi in a speech. He said the two powers had made progress in trade. As a special gesture, Trump personally welcomed his guest on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews military airport near Washington.

Xi said competition between the US and China should be "healthy and contained." He added that China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the US in combating illegal drugs, and stressed that the militaries of both countries should strengthen their coordination.

Pandas as a gesture of friendship

As a gesture of friendship, Xi announced that China would donate two pandas to the Atlanta Zoo. He described the animals as “ambassadors of friendship.” With regard to China, the concept of panda diplomacy has been around for decades.

Pandas are loaned to states in order to make them more favorable towards Beijing. In 1972, the first panda bears were brought to the United States following a visit to China by then US President Richard Nixon.