Donald Trump greets Chinese leader on the tarmac in rare gesture ahead of their summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping was greeted on the tarmac by his American counterpart Donald Trump on Wednesday – a rare gesture ahead of their summit. It is Xi’s first state visit to the United States in over a decade and the two leaders met each other at Joint Base Andrews just after 6pm, alongside their wives Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan. Here are the key takeaways.
1. Trade truce extended
As Xi and Peng touched down in America, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that the two countries had agreed to extend the Busan trade deal from November 10 to January 10. The truce was previously extended in August.
2. Xi’s written speech
Xi said China and the United States “should be partners rather than rivals” in a written speech released by state news agency Xinhua after his arrival to Washington. Xi said he believed, with the joint efforts of both sides, the visit would yield fruitful results. “The realisation of the great rejuvenation of China and the goal of making America great again can be mutually inclusive – they can reinforce each other and benefit the world,” he said in the speech.
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3. Chinese delegation
Arriving on the plane with Xi, the Chinese delegation included Cai Qi, the fifth-ranking official in China and Xi’s chief of staff, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Minister of Finance Lan Foan. Vice-Premier He Lifeng and Executive Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu were among those on the tarmac for Xi’s arrival.
4. Warm greetings
Trump broke with standard presidential protocol by personally meeting Xi at the airfield. The two leaders, joined by their wives, had a conversation on the tarmac through interpreters.
5. Military pageantry
The White House organised a lavish military display at Joint Base Andrews. The greeting featured an array of defence hardware, including six F-16 fighters, six F-22 fighters and two B-1 Lancer flyovers, alongside honour guards and a 21-gun salute.
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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.
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