Chinese President Xi Jinping touched down at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sept. 23, where he was greeted by U.S. President Donald Trump and Melania Trump, marking the start of a three‑day state visit that includes a lavish banquet and military honors.
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.