Xi’s Air China‑branded aircraft taxied to a stop at the military base near Washington, D.C., where President Trump waited on the tarmac to welcome the Chinese leader and his wife, Peng Liyuan.
The arrival kicked off a three‑day itinerary that will see Xi travel to the White House for a state banquet, attend a military fly‑over and receive a 21‑gun salute, the most elaborate ceremonial program for a Chinese head of state in more than a decade.
Trump’s administration has emphasized the pomp as a signal of the United States’ desire to preserve a fragile diplomatic and trade truce with Beijing, even as analysts note that no major breakthroughs on contentious issues are expected during the visit.
The visit comes at a time of heightened tension between the two superpowers, with both sides navigating disputes over trade, technology and regional security, but the leaders have signaled a willingness to keep dialogue open.
Officials said the state visit will also include discussions on a range of bilateral topics, though concrete outcomes remain uncertain as both governments tread carefully amid ongoing strategic rivalry.