Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Sep 24: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, setting the stage for high-level talks with US President Donald Trump on trade, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, Taiwan and other sensitive issues.
Xi, accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, was personally received by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Trump travelled to the military base ahead of Xi’s arrival, marking an uncommon protocol gesture for a visiting foreign leader.
A military honour guard and band were assembled for the reception, while a 100-foot-long red carpet was laid near Xi’s aircraft. The ceremony also featured a flypast by two B-1 bomber aircraft and the playing of the national anthems of the United States and China.
Xi stepped out of his aircraft holding Peng Liyuan’s hand before being greeted by Trump and Melania. The White House had announced that Trump would personally welcome Xi at Joint Base Andrews, followed by a formal state arrival ceremony at the White House on Thursday.
Melania Trump said her husband wanted to personally welcome Xi because “they have a great relationship”. The White House described the gesture as reciprocal after Xi hosted Trump in Beijing earlier this year.
Xi’s visit, scheduled from September 23 to 25, is his first state visit to Washington in more than a decade. It is also the second meeting between Xi and Trump in less than six months and their third in-person meeting following their talks in Busan last October and Trump’s visit to Beijing in May.
The visit comes amid continuing differences between Washington and Beijing over trade, technology, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, critical minerals and other strategic issues. Chinese officials have said the two sides will discuss major bilateral and global issues while stressing the importance of dialogue and managing differences.
Trade is expected to be a key issue in the talks, with the existing US-China tariff truce due to expire in November. US officials have indicated that Washington is considering tariff reductions on a limited range of non-strategic goods, while maintaining export controls related to strategic materials.
Critical minerals and rare earth supplies are also expected to feature prominently because of their importance to global manufacturing and technology supply chains. Officials from both sides have already been holding discussions on the economic issues, although no final outcome has been announced.
Artificial intelligence is another major issue on the agenda as the two countries compete over advanced AI technology and debate the regulation of emerging systems. Discussions have included possible greater communication between the two countries on AI models and oversight of Chinese open-source systems.
Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive issues in US-China relations. The leaders are also expected to discuss the ongoing conflict involving Iran and other geopolitical concerns.
Washington is also continuing to press Beijing over the movement of fentanyl precursor chemicals that eventually reach criminal groups in Mexico. Trump is expected to raise the cases of Americans imprisoned in China, an issue that has featured in previous discussions between the two governments.